defa14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Lear
Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
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21557
Telegraph Road
Southfield, Michigan 48033
July 9,
2007
Dear Lear Stockholder:
On or about May 23, 2007, we mailed to you a definitive
proxy statement dated May 23, 2007, as supplemented on
June 18, 2007, relating to our annual meeting of
stockholders currently scheduled for July 12, 2007 (the
annual meeting) to consider, among other things, a
proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
February 9, 2007, by and among Lear, AREP Car Holdings
Corp. (Parent) and AREP Car Acquisition Corp.
On July 9, 2007, the parties amended the merger agreement
to increase the consideration payable to Lear stockholders from
$36.00 to $37.25 per share in cash, without interest. In
addition, the merger agreement amendment provides that if the
requisite stockholder vote is not obtained on or prior to
July 16, 2007, subject to certain exceptions, the Company
will pay Parent $12.5 million, issue to Parent
335,570 shares of the Companys common stock and
increase from 24% to 27% the share ownership limitation under
the waiver of Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (DGCL) previously granted by the
Company to affiliates of and funds managed by Carl C. Icahn.
We intend to convene the annual meeting on July 12, 2007
for the sole purpose of adjourning it in order to permit the
solicitation of additional votes in favor of the adoption of the
merger agreement and to provide stockholders with additional
time to consider the changes to the merger effectuated by the
amendment to the merger agreement on July 9, 2007,
including the increased merger consideration, and to review the
enclosed supplement. We intend to reconvene the annual meeting
on July 16, 2007, at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at Hotel
du Pont, 11th and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware
19801.
After careful consideration, our board of directors (excluding
Mr. Vincent J. Intrieri, who did not participate in board
deliberations regarding the merger) has approved the amended
merger agreement and the merger and has determined that the
amended merger agreement is advisable and in the best interests
of Lear and its stockholders, including its unaffiliated
stockholders, and approved and adopted the amended merger
agreement. Accordingly, our board of directors recommends
that you vote FOR the adoption of the amended merger
agreement.
Attached to this letter is a supplement to the definitive proxy
statement containing additional and updated information about
Lear and the amended merger agreement. Please read this document
carefully in its entirety. We also encourage you, if you have
not done so already, to review carefully the definitive proxy
statement, as supplemented on June 18, 2007, that was
previously sent to you.
The record date for the meeting has not changed and will not
change when the meeting is adjourned on July 12, 2007 to
July 16, 2007. The record date will remain May 14,
2007. This means that only stockholders of record of Lear common
stock at the close of business on May 14, 2007 are entitled
to vote on the merger proposal at the annual meeting.
On behalf of the board of directors, we thank you in advance for
your cooperation and continued support as a stockholder of Lear.
Sincerely,
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Larry W. McCurdy
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James A. Stern
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Henry D.G. Wallace
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Lead Independent Director
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Independent Director,
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Independent Director,
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and Chairman of the
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Member of Special
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Member of Special
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Special Committee
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Committee
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Committee
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This supplement is dated July 9, 2007 and is first being
mailed to stockholders on or about July 9, 2007.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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S-1
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S-3
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S-3
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S-3
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S-3
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S-4
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S-6
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S-6
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S-6
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S-12
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S-12
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S-21
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S-27
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S-27
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S-29
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A-1
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B-1
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C-1
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SUPPLEMENT
NO. 2 TO PROXY STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
This supplement is being mailed to the stockholders of Lear
Corporation because we have amended our merger agreement with
AREP Car Holdings Corp. (Parent) and AREP Car
Acquisition Corp. (Merger Sub), and our stockholders
are being asked to adopt the amended merger agreement. This
supplement provides information about the amended transaction
and updates the definitive proxy statement, dated May 23,
2007, as supplemented by the supplement dated June 18, 2007
(collectively, the proxy statement). References to
Lear, the Company, we,
our, or us in this supplement refer to
Lear Corporation and its subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated
or the context otherwise requires.
This supplement is being mailed to the stockholders of Lear
Corporation who are eligible to vote at the annual meeting of
stockholders being held for the purposes set forth in the
definitive proxy statement dated May 23, 2007, and
supplemented by a proxy statement supplement dated June 18,
2007. All holders of record of our common stock as of the close
of business on May 14, 2007 are entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of
the meeting. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the
meeting, and any postponement or adjournment of the meeting,
will be available for examination between the hours of
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at our headquarters at 21557
Telegraph Road, Southfield, Michigan 48033, during the ten days
prior to the meeting and also at the meeting. This supplement is
first being mailed to stockholders on or about July 9, 2007.
As discussed in more detail in the proxy statement, we will hold
our annual meeting at the Hotel Du Pont,
11th and
Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, on July 12,
2007, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time; however, we expect to
convene the annual meeting for the sole purpose of adjourning it
in order to permit the solicitation of additional votes and to
provide stockholders with additional time to consider the
changes to the merger effectuated by the amendment to the merger
agreement on July 9, 2007, including the increased merger
consideration, and to review this supplement. We expect to
reconvene the annual meeting on July 16, 2007, at
1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at Hotel du Pont,
11th and
Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 to consider and act
upon the following matters:
1. vote upon a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of February 9, 2007, as amended on
July 9, 2007, by and among Lear Corporation, AREP Car
Holdings Corp. and AREP Car Acquisition Corp. and the merger
contemplated thereby;
2. vote upon a proposal to adjourn or postpone the annual
meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies
if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the annual
meeting to adopt the merger agreement;
3. elect three directors;
4. approve amendments to our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to provide for the annual election
of directors;
5. ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
our independent registered public accounting firm for 2007;
6. consider two stockholder proposals, if presented at the
meeting; and
7. conduct any other business properly before the meeting
or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
After careful consideration, our board of directors has
determined that the amended merger agreement and the
transactions contemplated by the amended merger agreement,
including the merger, are advisable, substantively and
procedurally fair to, and in the best interests of, Lear and
Lears unaffiliated stockholders. Our board of directors
has approved and adopted the amended merger agreement and the
transactions contemplated by the amended merger agreement,
including the merger.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
FOR ADOPTION OF THE AMENDED MERGER AGREEMENT.
S-1
Stockholders are urged to read this supplement carefully
together with the definitive proxy statement, dated May 23,
2007, and supplemented by the supplement dated June 18,
2007. The information contained in this supplement replaces and
supersedes any inconsistent information set forth in the proxy
statement. If you need another copy of the definitive proxy
statement, the supplement dated June 18, 2007, this
supplement or the previously delivered proxy card, you may
obtain it free of charge from Lear by directing such request to:
Lear Corporation, Attention: Investor Relations, 21557 Telegraph
Road, Southfield, Michigan 48033, or by calling Investor
Relations at
(248) 447-1500.
The definitive proxy statement, dated May 23, 2007, and the
supplement dated June 18, 2007, may also be found on the
internet at www.sec.gov.
Your vote is important. Properly executed proxy cards with no
instructions indicated on the proxy card will be voted
FOR the adoption of the merger agreement. Whether or
not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please complete, sign
and date the previously delivered proxy card and return it in
the enclosed prepaid envelope. If you attend the annual meeting,
you may revoke your proxy and vote in person if you wish, even
if you have previously returned your proxy card. Your failure to
vote in person at the annual meeting or to submit a properly
executed proxy card will effectively have the same effect as a
vote AGAINST the adoption of the merger agreement.
Your prompt cooperation is greatly appreciated.
VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The holders of record of shares of our common stock as of the
close of business on May 14, 2007, which is the record date
for the annual meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and to
vote at the annual meeting. On the record date, there were
76,685,623 shares of our common stock outstanding.
Holders of record of our common stock may vote their shares by
attending the annual meeting and voting their shares of our
common stock in person or by completing the previously delivered
proxy card, signing and dating it and mailing it in the
previously delivered postage-prepaid envelope.
NO ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS SUPPLEMENT IS REQUIRED BY
ANY STOCKHOLDER WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY DELIVERED A PROXY AND WHO
DOES NOT WISH TO REVOKE OR CHANGE THAT PROXY.
You can change your vote and revoke your proxy at any time
before it is voted at the meeting by:
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delivering to Wendy L. Foss, our Vice President,
Finance & Administration and Corporate Secretary, a
signed, written revocation letter dated later than the date of
your proxy;
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submitting a proxy to Lear with a later date; or
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attending the meeting and voting in person (your attendance at
the meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy; you must
vote in person at the meeting to revoke your proxy).
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If you are not the record holder of your shares, you must follow
the instructions of your bank or brokerage firm in order to
change your vote.
Stockholders who have questions or requests for assistance in
completing and submitting proxy cards, or in obtaining a proxy
card, should contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc., our proxy
solicitor, at:
105 Madison
Avenue, New York, New York 10016
Banks and Brokerage Firms, Please Call:
(212) 929-5500
Stockholders and All Others Call Toll Free:
(800) 322-2885
We are not currently aware of any business to be acted upon at
the annual meeting other than the matters discussed in the proxy
statement, as supplemented by this supplement.
S-2
UPDATE TO
THE SUMMARY TERM SHEET
This updated summary term sheet, together with the updated
question and answer section contained in this supplement,
highlights important information about the proposed merger
discussed in more detail elsewhere in this supplement and in the
proxy statement. This updated summary term sheet does not
contain all of the information you should consider before voting
on the adoption of the amended merger agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby. To understand the merger more
fully, you are urged to read carefully this entire supplement
and all of its annexes, including the amendment to the merger
agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this
supplement, and the proxy statement and all of its annexes
before voting on the proposal to adopt the amended merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. The amended
merger agreement is the legal document that governs the merger.
Amendment
to the Merger Agreement
On July 9, 2007, we, together with Parent and Merger Sub,
entered into Amendment No. 1 to the merger agreement
(Amendment No. 1), which amends the merger
agreement to increase the consideration payable to Lear
stockholders from $36.00 per share to $37.25 per share, in each
case in cash, without interest and less any applicable
withholding tax. The amendment also provides that if the
requisite stockholder vote for the merger is not obtained on or
prior to July 16, 2007, subject to certain exceptions, the
Company will pay Parent $12.5 million, issue to Parent
335,570 shares of the Companys common stock and
increase from 24% to 27% the share ownership limitation under
the waiver of Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the DGCL) previously granted by the
Company to Icahn affiliates.
The amendment also provides customary representations and
warranties of the parties in connection with the execution of
the amendment. See Summary of Amendment No. 1 to the
Merger Agreement beginning on
page S-27.
Recommendation
of Our Board of Directors
After careful consideration, our board of directors (excluding
Mr. Intrieri, who did not participate in board
deliberations concerning the merger) has approved the amended
merger agreement and the merger and has determined that the
amended merger agreement is both procedurally and substantively
fair to Lears unaffiliated stockholders, and in the best
interests of our stockholders. Accordingly, our board of
directors recommends that you vote FOR the approval
and adoption of the amended merger agreement and the merger and
FOR the approval of any proposal to adjourn the
annual meeting to a later date to solicit additional proxies in
favor of the approval and adoption of the amended merger
agreement and the merger if there are not sufficient votes for
approval and adoption of the amended merger agreement and the
merger at the annual meeting.
Interests
of Lears Directors and Executive Officers in the
Merger
In considering the recommendation of the board of directors with
respect to the amended merger agreement and the merger, you
should be aware that some of the Companys directors and
executive officers have interests in the merger that are
different from, or in addition to, the interests of our
stockholders generally. The board of directors was aware of
these interests and considered them, among other matters, in
approving the amended merger agreement and the merger. See
Interests of Lears Directors and Executive Officers
in the Merger beginning on
page S-21.
S-3
UPDATE TO
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE
The following section provides brief answers to some of the more
likely questions raised in connection with the amendment to the
merger agreement and the merger. This section is not intended to
contain all of the information that is important to you. You are
urged to read the entire supplement and proxy statement
carefully, including the information incorporated by reference
and the annexes.
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Why are you sending me this supplement? |
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We are sending you this supplement because on July 9, 2007,
we, Parent and Merger Sub amended the original merger agreement
to provide for, among other things, an increase of $1.25 in cash
per share over the $36.00 in cash per share provided for in the
original merger agreement. This supplement provides information
about the changes to the transaction and updates the proxy
statement which was previously mailed to you on or about
May 23, 2007 and was supplemented by the supplement
previously mailed to you on or about June 18, 2007. |
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What are the significant amendments to the original merger
agreement? |
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The original merger agreement was amended to increase the merger
consideration to be paid to our stockholders from $36.00 to
$37.25 in cash per share of our common stock, in each case
without interest and less any applicable withholding tax. In
addition, the merger agreement amendment provides that if the
requisite stockholder vote for the merger is not obtained on or
prior to July 16, 2007, subject to certain exceptions, the
Company shall pay Parent $12.5 million, issue to Parent
335,570 shares of the Companys common stock and
increase the share ownership limitation from 24% to 27% under
the waiver of Section 203 of the DGCL previously granted by
the Company to the Icahn affiliates. |
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The merger agreement has also been amended to provide customary
representations and warranties of the parties in connection with
the execution of the amendment. |
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Does the board of directors still support the merger? |
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Yes. Our board of directors recommends that our stockholders
vote FOR the amended merger agreement. |
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What should I do if I already voted using the proxy card you
sent me earlier? |
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First, carefully read this supplement and the proxy statement,
including the information incorporated by reference and the
annexes. If you have already submitted a proxy, you do not need
to do anything unless you want to change your vote. If you want
to change your vote, you need to submit a new proxy card or
attend the annual meeting and vote in person. Otherwise, you
will be considered to have voted on the amended merger agreement
as indicated in the proxy card you sent earlier and the proxies
identified in the proxy card you sent earlier will vote your
shares as indicated in that previously submitted proxy card. If
you are a registered holder and you wish to change your vote,
please complete, sign and date a new proxy card and return it in
the accompanying prepaid envelope. If your shares are held in
street name by your broker, and you wish to change
your vote, please refer to your voting card or other information
forwarded by your broker, bank or other holder of record to
determine whether you may vote by telephone or on the Internet
and follow the instructions on the card or other information
provided by the record holder. |
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What should I do if I have not voted my shares? |
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First, carefully read this supplement and the proxy statement,
including the information incorporated by reference and the
annexes. If you are a registered holder and you have not already
delivered a properly executed proxy, please complete, sign and
date the previously delivered proxy card and return it in the
accompanying prepaid envelope to ensure that your shares will be
represented at the annual meeting. If your shares are held in
street name by your broker, and you have not already
delivered a properly executed proxy, please refer to your voting
card or other information forwarded by your broker, bank or
other holder of record to determine whether you may vote by
telephone or on the Internet and follow the instructions on the
card or other information provided by the record holder. Your
vote is important. Accordingly, we urge you to sign and return
the previously delivered proxy card whether or not you plan to
attend the annual meeting. |
S-4
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How do I revoke or change my vote? |
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You can change your vote at any time before the vote taken at
the annual meeting by: |
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delivering to Wendy L. Foss, our Vice President,
Finance & Administration and Corporate Secretary, a
signed, written revocation letter dated later than the date of
your proxy;
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submitting a proxy to Lear with a later date; or
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attending the meeting and voting in person (your
attendance at the meeting will not, by itself, revoke your
proxy; you must vote in person at the meeting to revoke your
proxy).
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What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card or vote
instruction card? |
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If you also hold shares directly as a record holder in
street name, or otherwise through a nominee, you may
receive more than one proxy and/or set of voting instructions
relating to the annual meeting. These should each be voted
and/or returned separately as described elsewhere in this proxy
statement in order to ensure that all of your shares are voted. |
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What if I return my proxy card without specifying my voting
choices? |
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If you return a signed proxy card, but do not mark the boxes
showing how you wish to vote, your shares will be voted as
recommended by the board of directors. |
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When and where is the annual meeting? |
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The annual meeting will be held at the Hotel Du Pont,
11th
and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, on July 12,
2007, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time; however, we intend to
convene the annual meeting for the sole purpose of adjourning it
in order to permit the solicitation of additional votes and to
provide stockholders with additional time to consider the
changes to the merger effectuated by the amendment to the merger
agreement on July 9, 2007, including the increased merger
consideration, and to review this supplement. We intend to
reconvene the annual meeting on July 16, 2007, at
1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at Hotel du Pont,
11th
and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. |
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Who can vote at the annual meeting? |
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The record date for the annual meeting has not changed and will
not change when the annual meeting is adjourned to July 16,
2007. You can vote at the annual meeting if you owned shares of
our common stock as of the close of business on May 14,
2007, the record date. As of the record date there were
76,685,623 shares of our common stock outstanding and
entitled to be voted at the annual meeting. |
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How many votes are required to approve and adopt the merger
and the amended merger agreement? |
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The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of
our common stock is required to adopt the amended merger
agreement. The adoption of the amended merger agreement does not
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the unaffiliated
stockholders. The failure to vote has the same effect as a vote
AGAINST the adoption of the amended merger agreement. |
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Who can help answer my other questions? |
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If you have additional questions about the merger, need
assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares of our
common stock, or need additional copies of the proxy statement
or the previously delivered proxy card, you may direct such
question or request to Lear Corporation, 21557 Telegraph Road,
P.O. Box 5008, Southfield, Michigan 48086, Attention:
Investor Relations, or through Lears website at
www.lear.com. You may also contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc., our
proxy solicitor, toll-free at
(800) 322-2885. |
S-5
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This supplement contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding anticipated financial results and
liquidity. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated
results as a result of certain risks and uncertainties,
including but not limited to, general economic conditions in the
markets in which the Company operates, including changes in
interest rates or currency exchange rates, the financial
condition of the Companys customers or suppliers,
fluctuations in the production of vehicles for which the Company
is a supplier, disruptions in the relationships with the
Companys suppliers, labor disputes involving the Company
or its significant customers or suppliers or that otherwise
affect the Company, the Companys ability to achieve cost
reductions that offset or exceed customer-mandated selling price
reductions, the outcome of customer productivity negotiations,
the impact and timing of program launch costs, the costs and
timing of facility closures, business realignment or similar
actions, increases in the Companys warranty or product
liability costs, risks associated with conducting business in
foreign countries, competitive conditions impacting the
Companys key customers and suppliers, raw material costs
and availability, the Companys ability to mitigate the
significant impact of increases in raw material, energy and
commodity costs, the outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings
to which the Company is or may become a party, unanticipated
changes in cash flow, including the Companys ability to
align its vendor payment terms with those of its customers, the
finalization of the Companys restructuring strategy and
other risks described from time to time in the Companys
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.
The Companys proposed merger with AREP Car Acquisition
Corp. is subject to various conditions including the receipt of
the requisite stockholder approval from the Companys
stockholders and other conditions to closing customary for
transactions of this type. No assurances can be given that the
proposed transaction will be consummated or, if not consummated,
that the Company will enter into a comparable or superior
transaction with another party.
The forward-looking statements in this proxy statement are made
as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to
update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information
or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, except as
required by law or the applicable regulations of the SEC.
UPDATE TO
SPECIAL FACTORS
Background
of the Merger
The proxy statement is supplemented to add the following
disclosure in Special Factors Background of
the Merger:
Following distribution of our definitive proxy statement on
May 23, 2007, the special committee requested that members
of Lears senior management offer to meet with the
Companys stockholders to discuss our board of
directors reasons for recommending approval of the merger
agreement and answer any related questions. These discussions
included a presentation that was filed with the SEC as
solicitation material. Additionally, on May 30, 2007,
representatives of the Company, including two members of the
special committee, met with representatives of Institutional
Shareholder Services (ISS), a proxy advisory firm,
to make a similar presentation.
At its meetings on June 14, 17 and 21, 2007, the special
committee received reports on the status of discussions with the
Companys stockholders. Additionally, the special committee
periodically received reports on the tabulation of stockholder
votes for approval of the merger agreement. At its meeting on
June 14, 2007, the special committee, meeting jointly with
the Audit Committee, also received a presentation from the
Companys management on the Companys financial
outlook for the remainder of 2007. As a result of this
presentation and following a discussion among the members of the
two committees, the Company revised its financial outlook for
2007. At the meeting of the special committee on June 17,
2007, the financial advisors to the special committee, JPMorgan
and Evercore Partners, provided the special committee with their
evaluation of the Companys revised financial outlook. At
that meeting, the special committee was informed by JPMorgan
that the Companys revised 2007 financial forecast would
not materially change JPMorgans prior financial analysis.
A representative of Evercore stated to the special committee
that, notwithstanding the Companys revised 2007 financial
outlook, he was not aware of any fundamental change in the North
American automotive industry environment since February 2007
that would have an impact on the Company. Following these
presentations and a discussion among special
S-6
committee members, its advisors and members of management, the
special committee unanimously concluded that no change in the
board of directors recommendation on the merger agreement
was warranted.
At a joint meeting of the special committee and the Executive
Committee on June 21, 2007, members of these committees
further reviewed the status of the Companys proxy
solicitation efforts. The committees concluded that given some
misunderstandings and concerns expressed by critics of the
merger, the members of the special committee should distribute
to stockholders a letter that summarizes the board of
directors reasons for supporting the merger and addresses
the principal concerns raised by opponents of the transaction.
The committees also determined to reschedule the annual meeting
from
June 27th to
July 12th to
permit stockholders to review and evaluate the special
committees letter to stockholders.
On June 28, 2007, the special committee convened a meeting
to discuss, among other topics, the status of the solicitation
of votes for approval of the merger agreement. At that meeting,
representatives of JPMorgan and Evercore, as well as the special
committees other advisors and members of the
Companys management, discussed in detail the status of
stockholder support for the merger agreement and possible
courses of action. After receiving advice from members of senior
management and the special committees advisors, the
special committee requested that Messrs. McCurdy and
Rossiter approach representatives of AREP regarding the
possibility of increasing the per share consideration to be paid
to the Companys stockholders under the merger agreement.
Following this meeting, Messrs. McCurdy and Rossiter
contacted Messrs. Icahn and Intrieri. In that conversation,
Mr. McCurdy discussed stockholder concerns regarding the
merger agreement, changes in industry conditions and the
Companys recent financial performance. Mr. McCurdy
further expressed the view that while the board of directors and
the special committee continued to fully support the AREP merger
proposal and believed that it represented a fair price, some
improvement in the terms may be required to obtain stockholder
approval. In response, Mr. Icahn indicated that the
existing merger agreement provides a full and fair price to Lear
stockholders, that industry conditions, particularly in North
America, remain very challenging, and that the Companys
long-term prospects had not changed significantly since the
merger agreement was executed. Mr. Icahn further stated
that AREP was not inclined to increase the offer price in the
merger agreement, but that if it did, the increase would be
modest and if the stockholders did not approve the transaction,
AREP would expect a
break-up fee
of between 1.0 and 1.5 percent of the equity value of the
transaction (approximately $28 million to $42 million)
plus reimbursement of expenses. Mr. McCurdy indicated that
such a
break-up fee
would be unacceptable to the special committee and the board of
directors but that it might be constructive if the parties
advisors and management met to discuss alternative approaches to
secure an improvement in the terms of the merger proposal. Over
the next ten days, representatives and advisors of the Company,
AREP and Mr. Icahn engaged in numerous discussions
regarding alternatives for improving the terms of the merger
proposal.
Later on
June 28th,
representatives of Winston & Strawn LLP and
Abrams & Laster LLP, legal advisors to the special
committee, spoke with legal advisors to Mr. Icahn to
discuss alternatives to a
break-up fee
in the event the Companys stockholders failed to approve
the merger agreement following an increase by AREP in the merger
consideration to be paid to the Companys stockholders. The
special committees advisors indicated that the board of
directors would evaluate any request for consideration being
paid to AREP in such a circumstance against the incremental
benefits being offered to the Companys stockholders. A
number of alternatives to a
break-up fee
were discussed. In the course of the discussions, the advisors
to the special committee indicated to Mr. Icahns
legal advisors that certain of the Companys stockholders
may be interested in participating in the equity of the Company
following the merger if AREP ever elected to sell a portion of
its equity interest.
On the evening of
June 28th,
Mr. Ninivaggi spoke with Mr. Intrieri. In that
conversation, Mr. Intrieri suggested that in exchange for a
$1.00 increase in the merger consideration and in lieu of a
break-up fee
in the event the stockholders failed to approve the transaction,
AREP would consider exploring a combination of (i) a
payment of $15 million (a substantial portion of which
would be applied to AREPs transaction costs and expenses),
(ii) the issuance of warrants to AREP entitling it, upon
exercise, to purchase additional shares of common stock of the
Company and (iii) an increase in the share ownership
limitation applicable to the Icahn affiliates under
Section 203 of the DGCL from 24% to 33% of the
Companys outstanding common stock. Mr. Ninivaggi
thereafter reported these discussions to Mr. McCurdy and
the special committees advisors.
S-7
On June 29, 2007, the special committee convened a meeting
to consider the matters raised in discussions with AREP. A
conference call with other Board members was held following the
meeting to solicit their views. Following these deliberations
and after consulting with the special committees legal and
financial advisors, the special committee instructed
Mr. McCurdy and Mr. Rossiter to contact Mr. Icahn
with the following proposal: in exchange for an increase in the
merger consideration of $1.00 per share, and in the event the
Companys stockholders failed to approve the terms of the
amended merger agreement, the Company would reimburse AREP for
up to $10 million of expenses, issue warrants having a
value of $10 million for up to 3% of the Companys
common stock at an exercise price of $37.00 per share, and
increase the share ownership limitation applicable to the Icahn
affiliates under Section 203 of the DGCL from 24% to 27% of
the Companys outstanding common stock. Following the
special committees proposal to Mr. Icahn, a
discussion ensued following which Mr. Icahn indicated that
AREP was not interested in the terms presented by the special
committee. Mr. McCurdy indicated that the terms suggested
by Mr. Intrieri on June 28th remained unacceptable to
the special committee.
On
July 1st,
Mr. Icahn met with Mr. Ninivaggi. At that meeting,
Mr. Icahn again expressed his view that the merger
agreement provided a full and fair price for the Company, that
no acquisition proposals had been submitted for the Company
during the go-shop process provided for in the
merger agreement and that there had been no material change in
the automotive industry environment since February 2007.
However, Mr. Icahn stated that if the Company could
demonstrate stockholder support for the transaction at $37.00
per share, he would raise it with AREPs board of directors
and AREPs special committee for their consideration. He
again indicated, however, that any improvement in the
transaction terms would have to provide significant financial
benefits to AREP in the event the stockholders failed to approve
the enhanced merger proposal. Mr. Ninivaggi indicated that
he would report Mr. Icahns views to the special
committee.
On
July 2nd,
Mr. Ninivaggi provided a summary of his meeting with
Mr. Icahn to Mr. McCurdy and Mr. Stern, who
instructed him to consult with the Companys proxy
solicitor and otherwise attempt to gauge stockholder support for
the merger proposal with a $1.00 per share increase in the offer
price. In addition, they authorized the special committees
advisors and management to continue discussions with
representatives of AREP regarding an improvement in the merger
terms. In these further discussions, the special
committees advisors and Mr. Ninivaggi indicated that
certain stockholders continued to believe that the merger
agreement undervalued the Companys long-term prospects.
Other stockholders were clearly more supportive of the
transaction but believed that the recent improvement in the
Companys financial performance justified an increase in
the offer price. Mr. Icahn emphasized the continued risks
inherent in the automotive industry environment and the
Companys business plan and that $36.00 per share is a fair
price. However, in an effort to address stockholder concerns,
the parties discussed the possibility originally raised by the
advisors to the special committee of providing stockholders with
the opportunity to co-invest in the transaction at the same
price being paid by AREP in the merger. Mr. Ninivaggi,
Mr. Icahn and Mr. Intrieri then discussed how the
co-investment feature could be structured, agreeing that the
matter was complex and should be referred to the parties
legal, financial and tax advisors. Mr. Ninivaggi also
indicated that the special committee continued to believe that
an increase in the cash merger consideration would be helpful in
securing stockholder approval. Mr. Icahn stated that he was
willing to consider an increase in the offer price. However, the
improvements in the merger agreement terms would be conditioned
on AREP receiving, in the event the Companys stockholders
failed to approve the enhanced merger proposal, a payment of
$10 million, warrants entitling AREP to purchase up to 4.9%
of the Companys common stock at an exercise price of
$37.00 per share and an increase in the share ownership
limitation applicable to Icahn affiliates under Section 203
of the DGCL. Mr. Ninivaggi reported the discussions held
with Mr. Icahn and other AREP representatives to
Mr. McCurdy and each of the special committees legal
and financial advisors on
July 3rd.
On July 3 and 4, 2007, further discussions occurred between
representatives of the Company and AREP. In these discussions,
Mr. Icahn indicated that if the Company believed it was
necessary in order to obtain stockholder approval, AREP would be
willing (i) to increase the cash merger consideration from
$36.00 to $37.00 per share and (ii) to offer shares of
Merger Sub representing up to 35% of the common stock of the
Company following the merger, assuming that the offering could
be structured in a way to satisfy legal, tax, financing, timing
and certain other concerns. The per share consideration paid for
these shares would equal the per share consideration paid by
AREP for Merger Subs shares in the merger. In the event
that the Companys stockholders failed to approve the
merger agreement on the amended terms, however, AREP would
receive a payment of $10 million, warrants
S-8
entitling AREP to 3% of the Companys common stock at an
exercise price of $37.00 per share and an increase in the share
ownership limitation under Section 203 of the DGCL from 24%
to 27% of the Companys outstanding common stock.
Additional discussions with representatives of JPMorgan and
Evercore were conducted to discuss the terms of the proposed
warrants. On July 3, 2007, Mr. McCurdy convened a
meeting of the board of directors. At that meeting, the board
members discussed these proposed terms. Specific attention at
the meeting was given to the benefits and concerns associated
with the equity
co-investment
opportunity discussed with AREP. The board of directors
concluded that the special committee should continue pursuing
more favorable terms with AREP, including the equity
co-investment opportunity, assuming the structural, timing and
other concerns discussed by the parties could be appropriately
addressed.
During the afternoon of July 4, 2007, Mr. Icahn
contacted Mr. Ninivaggi who was meeting with
representatives of Evercore and Winston & Strawn,
advisors to the special committee. Mr. Icahn indicated that
he was very concerned about recent U.S. automotive sales
data that showed significant market share declines by the
U.S. domestic automakers and the potential impact on the
Company. He also indicated that AREPs advisors had raised
concerns regarding the feasibility of allowing Lear stockholders
to co-invest in the merger transaction. Mr. Icahn stated to
Mr. Ninivaggi and the special committees advisors,
and thereafter to Mr. Rossiter, that he was not willing to
improve the terms of the merger agreement. Following a
discussion, Mr. Ninivaggi indicated that he would share
Mr. Icahns position with the Companys board of
directors, which had a meeting scheduled later in the day.
Messrs. Rossiter and Ninivaggi thereafter reported their
conversations with Mr. Icahn to the board of directors. The
board of directors encouraged the special committee, its
advisors and the Companys management to renew discussions
with AREP regarding enhanced terms.
On
July 5th,
Mr. Intrieri contacted Mr. Ninivaggi to discuss
AREPs concerns about the recent U.S. sales data and
the impact on the Companys future financial performance.
Mr. Intrieri indicated that AREP remained interested in
completing the merger transaction but needed to give further
thought to increasing the offer price, given the level of
industry risk in North America, as highlighted by the recent
sales data for the U.S. domestic automakers.
Mr. Ninivaggi indicated that a weakening of the North
American production environment in the second half of 2007 was
reflected in the Companys outlook and volatility in
monthly vehicle sales was not uncommon. Mr. Intrieri
suggested that Mr. Ninivaggi arrange a due diligence call
involving members of the Companys senior operational and
financial management to review recent industry events and
trends. Mr. Ninivaggi stated that he would do so, subject
to prior approval from Mr. McCurdy. Later that same day,
Mr. Ninivaggi talked with Mr. Icahn and encouraged him
to revisit his decision not to increase the consideration under
the merger agreement.
During the morning of
July 6th,
Mr. Ninivaggi briefed Messrs. McCurdy and Stern on his
discussions with Messrs. Icahn and Intrieri the day before.
Mr. McCurdy authorized management to proceed with the
requested due diligence call with AREP and requested that one of
the special committees financial advisors participate in
the call. Later in the day, Messrs. Rossiter, Vandenberghe,
DelGrosso and Ninivaggi, as well as other members of the
Companys senior operational and financial management,
along with a representative from Evercore, conducted the due
diligence conference call. During the call, management reviewed
the Companys recent financial performance and 2007
financial outlook, including vehicle production and other
assumptions, discussed recent sales trends and their potential
impact on the Companys key platforms and answered
questions from AREP representatives. Following the meeting,
Mr. Icahn indicated that he remained concerned about the
level of industry risk facing the Company. He agreed to consider
the information shared on the due diligence call and contact
Mr. Rossiter later in the day to discuss whether AREP was
willing to improve the merger proposal. Mr. Ninivaggi
thereafter reported the results of the call to Mr. McCurdy
who authorized Messrs. Rossiter and Ninivaggi to engage in
further discussions with Mr. Icahn regarding the prospect
of an improved offer, with a representative from
Winston & Strawn present. Mr. McCurdy directed
Mr. Ninivaggi to report any proposal to him as soon as
practicable.
During the afternoon of
July 6th,
Mr. Icahn contacted Mr. Rossiter and expressed a
continuing interest in obtaining stockholder support for the
transaction. Messrs. Intrieri, Ninivaggi and Vandenberghe,
as well as a representative from Winston & Strawn also
participated in the call. Mr. Icahn reiterated that he
believed the current terms of the merger were fair to
stockholders, particularly given the weakening capital markets,
the declining sales figures from the U.S. domestic
automakers, and the potential impact of those sales trends on
the Companys financial performance. However,
Mr. Icahn also indicated that he continued to believe in
the long-term prospects of the Company and that he would again
consider limited improvements in the merger terms. Specifically,
Mr. Icahn
S-9
stated that AREP would consider increasing the per share cash
merger consideration from $36.00 to $37.00 and adding an equity
co-investment feature for Lears institutional
stockholders, subject to the parties advisors resolving
any legal, tax, timing and other concerns relating to the equity
feature. Mr. Icahn stated that the equity feature, if
pursued, would have to be structured in a manner to avoid any
delay in the completion of the merger and would be subject to
minimum participation in excess of 20% of the Companys
common stock. Messrs. Rossiter and Ninivaggi discussed and
sought clarification regarding certain aspects of
Mr. Icahns proposed terms and thereafter indicated
they would report the discussions to the special committee.
Mr. Ninivaggi thereafter contacted Mr. McCurdy
regarding the discussions with AREP. Mr. McCurdy directed
Mr. Ninivaggi to seek advice from the special
committees legal and financial advisors regarding the
terms of the proposal. He also requested that management and the
special committees advisors continue to evaluate and
review with AREPs representatives the issues surrounding
the equity co-investment feature. Representatives from AREP and
the Company thereafter reviewed the legal, tax, financing and
timing issues surrounding the equity
co-investment
feature. Among other things, the parties concluded that in order
to satisfy AREPs desire for a prompt completion of the
merger, the equity co-investment would have to be structured as
a private placement in order to satisfy applicable legal
requirements and, as a result, could not be made available to
all of the Companys stockholders and could have negative
tax consequences to certain stockholders. In addition, the
equity feature would likely result in an illiquid and limited
trading market for holders and operational complexities for
AREP, as well as a delay in the merger. Following these
discussions, Messrs. Intrieri, Icahn, Ninivaggi and a
representative of Winston & Strawn discussed the
complexities and difficulties associated with the equity
co-investment feature. Mr. Ninivaggi agreed to schedule a
conference call between AREP representatives and
Mr. McCurdy to discuss the matter further. Later that day,
Messrs. McCurdy and Ninivaggi conducted a call with
Messrs. Intrieri and Meister of AREP. During this call, the
parties discussed their mutual concerns regarding the equity
co-investment feature. Mr. Intrieri confirmed that AREP was
willing to go forward with the increase in the cash merger
consideration from $36.00 to $37.00 per share, subject to a fee
in the event of a negative stockholder vote of $20 million,
consisting of $10 million in cash and $10 million in
Lear common stock, and an increase in the ownership limitation
applicable to the Icahn affiliates under the waiver of
Section 203 of the DGCL to at least 27%. Mr. McCurdy
expressed his belief that a higher price would be required to
secure board approval, particularly if an equity co-investment
feature was eliminated. Mr. Intrieri responded that he was
not in the position to authorize a further increase, but that he
would discuss a price of $37.25 per share with Mr. Icahn,
subject to a proportionate increase in the
break-up fee.
During the evening of
July 6th,
the board of directors held a meeting to discuss the most recent
discussions with AREPs representatives. Participating in
the board meeting were all of the advisors to the special
committee as well as certain members of the Companys
senior management, including Mr. Ninivaggi and
Mr. William McLaughlin, Lears Vice President of Tax.
The board discussed the enhanced purchase price of $37.25 as
well as the implications and feasibility of the equity
co-investment feature. At the meeting, a representative of
JPMorgan expressed his view that nothing had caused JPMorgan to
change, in any material respect, the financial analysis with
respect to the valuation of the Company it performed in
connection with the fairness opinion it delivered to the special
committee and board of directors in February 2007. A
representative of Evercore indicated that he was not aware of
any fundamental change in the North American automotive industry
environment since February 2007 that would have an impact on the
Company. Additionally, representatives of JPMorgan, Evercore and
Winston & Strawn advised the board of directors that
each believed the Company and the advisors to the special
committee negotiated actively to obtain more favorable terms for
the stockholders and that no further improvement in the terms
from AREP was likely. Following continued discussion, the board
authorized Mr. McCurdy to offer AREP a proposal of $37.25
per share in the merger. The proposal would include that in the
event the merger did not receive stockholder approval by
July 19th, AREP would receive $12.5 million in cash
and 335,570 shares of the Companys common stock
(having a value of $12.5 million at $37.25 per share).
Additionally, under such a circumstance, the ownership
limitation applicable to the Icahn affiliates under the waiver
of Section 203 of the DGCL would be increased from 24% to
27%.
Following the meeting, Mr. McCurdy contacted
Mr. Intrieri and negotiated further the terms of the
proposal. Following the negotiation, Mr. Intrieri indicated
to Mr. McCurdy that he believed AREP would be willing to
proceed with a per share price of $37.25, subject to the fee
protection discussed earlier in the day. Mr. Intrieri
indicated that this was as good of an offer as AREP was prepared
to make. Following further discussion,
S-10
Mr. McCurdy indicated that he would present the proposal to
the Companys board of directors at a meeting scheduled for
July 7th.
On July 7, 2007, the board of directors discussed and
approved in principle the terms negotiated to date. During the
evening of
July 6th and
the morning of
July 7th,
the representatives of the parties negotiated certain of the
specific terms of the amended merger proposal, subject to
further discussion with Mr. Icahn.
On the afternoon of July 7th, Mr. Intrieri contacted
Mr. Ninivaggi and indicated that Mr. Icahn had
reservations about certain of the provisions of the revised
merger proposal. Mr. Icahns concerns focused on
providing AREP with a prompt resolution of the Companys
stockholder vote on the merger agreement as well as receiving
assurance that AREP will obtain the
break-up fee
provided for in the amendment to the merger agreement in the
event stockholder approval is not obtained. Later that evening,
representatives of Evercore, Winston & Strawn and
Abrams & Laster conducted two conference calls with
advisors to Mr. Icahn to discuss alternatives to resolving
the concerns expressed by Mr. Icahn. In addition, later
that evening, Mr. Ninivaggi participated in a conference
call with Messrs. Icahn and Intrieri to further discuss
Mr. Icahns concerns.
On the morning of
July 8th,
Mr. Ninivaggi and representatives of Winston &
Strawn and Abrams & Laster informed Mr. Intrieri
that they had concerns about the structure being proposed by
AREP, which included a requirement by AREP that the stockholder
vote be held no later than
July 12th.
They then contacted Mr. McCurdy to advise him of the
unresolved issues associated with the merger proposal.
Mr. McCurdy provided Mr. Ninivaggi and the advisors to
the special committee with his position on the open items and
indicated that they should contact representatives of AREP and
attempt to negotiate a resolution consistent with his direction.
Mr. Ninivaggi then contacted Mr. Stern who concurred
with Mr. McCurdys instructions. Later that afternoon,
Mr. Ninivaggi along with representatives of
Winston & Strawn and Abrams & Laster
conducted a conference call with representatives of
Mr. Icahn, as well as Messrs. Icahn and Intrieri.
Following negotiations between the parties, Mr. Icahn
agreed to submit to the AREP board a proposed increase in the
merger consideration to $37.25 per share. The proposal would
include that in the event the merger did not receive stockholder
approval by
July 16th,
AREP would receive $12.5 million in cash and
335,570 shares of the Companys common stock.
Additionally, in such event, the ownership limitation applicable
to the Icahn affiliates under the waiver of Section 203 of
the DGCL would be increased from 24% to 27%.
Following the conclusion of these discussions, the special
committee held a meeting at which the members unanimously
determined that the amended merger proposal was advisable,
substantively and procedurally fair to, and in the best
interests of, Lear and its unaffiliated stockholders and
unanimously recommended that our board of directors approve
Amendment No. 1 to the merger agreement and recommend
adoption of the amended merger agreement to Lear stockholders.
Later that afternoon, the Companys board of directors held
a meeting. At the meeting, Mr. Ninivaggi and a
representative of Winston & Strawn reviewed with the
directors the terms of the proposed merger agreement amendment
and related documents. The special committee then reported to
the board of directors its recommendation in favor of the merger
agreement amendment and the reasons for its recommendation.
Messrs. Rossiter and Vandenberghe, being the management
members of the board, then excused themselves from the meeting.
The remaining directors further discussed the AREP proposal.
Following these discussions, the non-management members of the
board present at the meeting unanimously approved the merger
agreement amendment and the merger. Messrs. Rossiter and
Vandenberghe returned to the meeting and a vote of all of the
directors present at the meeting occurred. After considering,
among other things, the factors described under Reasons
for the Merger; Recommendation of the Special Committee and Our
Board of Directors, the financial analyses and fairness
opinion of JPMorgan delivered on February 8, 2007, the
views expressed by JPMorgan and Evercore at earlier meetings and
the recommendation of the special committee, the directors
present at the meeting unanimously determined that the merger
agreement, including the amendment, and the merger were
advisable, substantively and procedurally fair to, and in the
best interests of, Lear and its unaffiliated stockholders and
resolved to adopt resolutions approving the merger agreement
amendment and the transactions contemplated thereby and
recommend that our stockholders adopt the merger agreement, as
amended. Following approval of the amended merger agreement by
the board of directors of AREP on July 8, 2007, the parties
executed Amendment No. 1 and the related agreements on the
morning of July 9, 2007.
S-11
Reasons
for the Merger; Recommendation of the Special Committee and Our
Board of Directors
The proxy statement is supplemented to add the following
disclosure in Special Factors Reasons for the
Merger; Recommendations of the Special Committee and Our Board
of Directors:
After careful consideration, our board of directors (excluding
Mr. Intrieri, who did not participate in board
deliberations regarding the amendment to the merger agreement):
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determined that the merger is fair to and in the best interests
of the Company and its unaffiliated stockholders;
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approved, adopted and declared advisable the amended merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated by the amended
merger agreement;
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recommended that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor
of the amended merger proposal and directed that such matter be
submitted for consideration of the stockholders of the Company
at the annual meeting; and
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authorized the execution, delivery and performance of the
amended merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by
the amended merger agreement.
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In considering the recommendation of the board of directors with
respect to the amended merger agreement, you should be aware
that some of the Companys directors and executive officers
who participated in meetings of the board of directors have
interests in the merger that are different from, or in addition
to, the interests of our stockholders generally. See
Special Factors Interests of Lears
Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger beginning
on page 59 of the definitive proxy statement and
Interests of Lears Directors and Executive Officers
in the Merger beginning on
page S-21
of this supplement.
Opinion
and Report of Advisors to the AREP Group
Opinion
of Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc.
In connection with the review and analysis of the merger by
Mr. Icahn, Mr. Intrieri, American Property Investors,
Inc. (API), American Real Estate Holdings Limited
Partnership, AREP, Icahn Partners LP, Icahn Partners Master
Fund LP, Koala Holding Limited Partnership, High River
Limited Partnership, Icahn Onshore LP, Icahn Offshores LP,
Hopper Investments LLC, CCI Onshore Corp., CCI Offshore Corp.,
Barberry Corp., Parent and Merger Sub (collectively, the
AREP Group), on February 1, 2007 the audit
committee and the special committee of the board of directors
(the API Committees) of API engaged Morgan
Joseph & Co. Inc. (Morgan Joseph) to
advise the API Committees and to furnish a written opinion as to
the fairness to AREP, from a financial point of view, of the
$36.00 per share consideration to be paid by AREP in the merger
under the merger agreement.
At a meeting of the API Committees on February 9, 2007,
Morgan Joseph furnished to the API Committees its opinion that,
as of such date, and based upon the assumptions made, matters
considered and limitations of its review set forth therein, the
$36.00 per share consideration to be paid by AREP in the merger
was fair, from a financial point of view, to AREP (the
Original Morgan Joseph Opinion).
In connection with the review and analysis of the amended merger
by the AREP Group, on July 8, 2007 the API Committees
engaged Morgan Joseph to provide certain services to the API
Committees and to furnish a written opinion as to the fairness
to AREP, from a financial point of view, of the $37.25 per share
consideration to be paid by AREP under Amendment No. 1.
At a meeting of the API Committees on July 8, 2007, Morgan
Joseph furnished to the API Committees its opinion that, as of
such date, and based upon the assumptions made, matters
considered and limitations of its review set forth therein, the
$37.25 per share consideration to be paid by AREP in the amended
merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to AREP (the
New Morgan Joseph Opinion and, together with the
Original Morgan Joseph Opinion, the Morgan Joseph
Opinions) .
Approximately 90% of the outstanding depositary units of AREP
(MLP Units) are owned by affiliates of
Mr. Icahn, and, therefore, AREP is deemed to be an
affiliate of Mr. Icahn. API is wholly owned by affiliates
of
S-12
Mr. Icahn. Morgan Joseph was engaged to provide the Morgan
Joseph Opinions to comply with provisions of indentures
governing AREP indebtedness and because of Mr. Icahns
ownership of Lear common stock and his participation in the
transaction in his capacity as an owner of Lear common stock.
Morgan Joseph did not consider or opine as to the value of the
transaction or the fairness of the transaction to the
unaffiliated stockholders of Lear.
The API Committees selected Morgan Joseph as their financial
advisor because Morgan Joseph has substantial experience in
transactions similar to the merger. Morgan Joseph regularly
engages in the valuation of businesses and securities in
connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts,
negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and
unlisted securities and private placements.
The description of the Original Morgan Joseph Opinion is set
forth under the caption Opinion and Report of Advisors to
the AREP Group Opinion of Morgan Joseph &
Co. Inc. in the definitive proxy statement. You are urged
to read the Original Morgan Joseph Opinion in its entirety for a
description of the procedures followed, assumptions made,
matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the
Original Morgan Joseph Opinion and the review and analyses
undertaken by Morgan Joseph in furnishing to the API Committees
the Original Morgan Joseph Opinion. The Original Morgan Joseph
Opinion is filed as Exhibit (c)(7) to Amendment No. 5 to
the
Schedule 13E-3
filed by Lear with the SEC on July 9, 2007, copies of which
may be obtained from the SEC. For instructions on how to obtain
materials from the SEC, see Where You Can Find More
Information beginning on page 175 of the definitive
proxy statement.
The description of the New Morgan Joseph Opinion set forth in
this section is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
full text of the New Morgan Joseph Opinion. You are urged to
read the New Morgan Joseph Opinion in its entirety for a
description of the procedures followed, assumptions made,
matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the New
Morgan Joseph Opinion and the review and analyses undertaken by
Morgan Joseph in furnishing to the API Committees the New Morgan
Joseph Opinion. The New Morgan Joseph Opinion is filed as
Exhibit (c)(8) to Amendment No. 5 to the
Schedule 13E-3
filed by Lear with the SEC on July 9, 2007, copies of which
may be obtained from the SEC. For instructions on how to obtain
materials from the SEC, see Where You Can Find More
Information beginning on page 175 of the proxy
statement.
The New Morgan Joseph Opinion is addressed and was furnished
solely to the API Committees and addresses only the fairness,
from a financial point of view, of the $37.25 per share
consideration to be paid by AREP in the amended merger. It does
not address the merits of the underlying business decision by
AREP, the API Committees or any of AREPs affiliates or
constituents to propose, consider, approve, recommend, declare
advisable or consummate the amended merger, and does not
constitute a recommendation to AREP, the API Committees,
AREPs full board of directors, the holders of MLP units,
or any other AREP constituent, person or entity as to any
specific action that should be taken (or not be taken) in
connection with the amended merger or as to any strategic or
financial alternatives to the amended merger or as to the timing
of any of the foregoing.
In connection with furnishing the New Morgan Joseph Opinion,
Morgan Joseph reviewed and analyzed, among other things, the
following:
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the merger agreement;
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the July 8, 2007 draft of Amendment No. 1 to the
merger agreement (which Morgan Joseph assumed was, with respect
to all material terms and conditions thereof, substantially in
the definitive form thereof executed and delivered by the
parties thereto);
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the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
filed by Lear with the SEC for its fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006, the Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q filed
by Lear with the SEC for its fiscal quarter ended March 31,
2007, and certain other filings made by Lear with the SEC under
the Exchange Act;
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the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
filed by AREP with the SEC for its fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006, the Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q filed
by AREP with the SEC for its fiscal quarter ended March 31,
2007, and certain other Exchange Act filings made by AREP with
the SEC;
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certain other publicly available business and financial
information concerning Lear and AREP, respectively, and the
industries in which they operate, which Morgan Joseph believed
to be relevant;
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S-13
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certain internal information and other data relating to Lear and
AREP, respectively, and their respective business and prospects,
including budgets, projections and certain presentations
prepared by Lear and AREP, respectively, which were provided to
Morgan Joseph by AREPs senior management;
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the reported sales prices and trading activity of Lears
common stock;
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certain publicly available information concerning certain other
companies, which Morgan Joseph believed to be relevant and the
trading markets for certain of such other companies
securities;
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the financial terms of certain recent unrelated transactions
which Morgan Joseph believed to be relevant; and
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the resolutions of the board of directors of API, dated
February 2, 2007, establishing and appointing the
membership of the special committee of the board of directors of
API and prescribing its authority and mandate with respect to
the proposed transaction, a complete and correct copy of which
were provided to Morgan Joseph by AREPs senior management
in connection with the Original Morgan Joseph Opinion delivered
to the API Committees on February 9, 2007.
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Morgan Joseph also participated in various conferences with
certain officers, directors (including the members of the API
Committees), employees and outside consultants of AREP and its
affiliates concerning the business, operations, assets,
financial condition and prospects of AREP and Lear,
respectively, and undertook such other studies, analyses and
investigations as Morgan Joseph deemed relevant to the New
Morgan Joseph Opinion.
In performing its analyses, numerous assumptions were made with
respect to industry performance, general business, economic,
market and financial conditions and other matters, many of which
are beyond the control of Morgan Joseph, Mr. Icahn, API,
AREP, Parent, Merger Sub and Lear. Any estimates contained in
the analyses performed by Morgan Joseph are not necessarily
indicative of actual values or future results, which may be
significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by
such analyses. Additionally, estimates of the value of
businesses or securities do not purport to be appraisals or to
reflect the prices at which those businesses or securities might
actually be sold. Accordingly, the analyses and estimates are
inherently subject to substantial uncertainty.
In preparing the New Morgan Joseph Opinion, Morgan Joseph
assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all
financial and other publicly available information and data used
by it and did not attempt independently to verify such
information, nor did Morgan Joseph assume any responsibility or
liability to do so. Morgan Joseph also assumed and relied upon
the assurances of senior management of AREP and its affiliates
that no relevant information had been omitted or remained
undisclosed to Morgan Joseph, and Morgan Joseph did not attempt
independently to verify any such information, nor did Morgan
Joseph assume any responsibility or liability to do so. Morgan
Joseph assumed that the forecasts and projections of Lear, which
were provided in the Companys proxy statement and reviewed
by Morgan Joseph along with AREPs senior management, had
been reasonably prepared based on the best current estimates,
information and judgment of AREPs and Lears senior
management, respectively, as to the future financial condition,
cash flows and results of operations of AREP and Lear and their
consolidated subsidiaries, respectively. Morgan Joseph neither
made an investigation of any such forecasts or projections or
the assumptions on which they are based, nor did it assume any
responsibility to do so. For the purposes of completing this
analysis, Morgan Joseph assumed that the amended merger will be
consummated in accordance with the terms and subject to the
conditions contained in the merger agreement, without any
economic or material further amendments thereto or modification
thereof, and without any waiver by AREP or Lear of any of the
conditions to their respective obligations thereunder.
Morgan Joseph made no independent investigation of any legal,
accounting or tax matters affecting Lear, AREP or any of their
respective affiliates, or the merger, and Morgan Joseph assumed
the accuracy and completeness of all legal, accounting and tax
advice provided to AREP and the API Committees by AREPs
management and the API Committees independent professional
advisors. Morgan Joseph did not conduct a physical inspection of
any of the properties, assets or facilities of Lear or AREP, nor
did it make or obtain any independent valuation or appraisal of
such properties, assets or facilities. Morgan Joseph also took
into account its assessment of general economic, market and
financial conditions and its experience in transactions that, in
whole or in part, it deemed to be relevant for purposes of its
analyses, as well as its experience in securities valuation in
general.
S-14
The New Morgan Joseph Opinion necessarily is based upon
economic, market, financial and other conditions as they existed
on July 8, 2007 and does not address the fairness of the
consideration to be paid by AREP to holders of Lears
common stock in the proposed amended merger on any other date.
Morgan Joseph expressed no opinion as to the price at which the
depositary units of AREP or any other securities will trade at
any future time.
In connection with furnishing to the API Committees the New
Morgan Joseph Opinion, Morgan Joseph performed a variety of
financial analyses, which are summarized below. These analyses
were presented to the API Committees at a meeting held on
July 8, 2007. The summary set forth below does not purport
to be a complete description of the analyses performed by Morgan
Joseph in this regard. The preparation of an opinion regarding
financial fairness involves various determinations as to the
most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analyses and
the application of these methods to the particular
circumstances, and, therefore, such an opinion is not readily
susceptible to a partial analysis or summary description.
Accordingly, notwithstanding the separate analyses summarized
below, Morgan Joseph believes that its analyses must be
considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its
analyses and factors considered by it, without considering all
of its analyses and factors, or attempting to ascribe relative
weights to some or all of its analyses and factors, could create
an incomplete view of the evaluation process underlying the New
Morgan Joseph Opinion.
The financial forecasts and forward-looking financial data of
Lear and AREP, which were furnished to Morgan Joseph and used by
it in some of its analyses, were prepared by the management of
Lear and AREP, respectively. Morgan Joseph was advised by the
API Committees that neither Lear nor AREP publicly discloses
financial forecasts or forward-looking financial data of the
type provided to Morgan Joseph in connection with its review of
the proposed amended merger, and, as a result, these financial
forecasts and forward-looking financial data were not prepared
by Lear and AREP, respectively, with a view towards public
disclosure or in accordance with any AICPA or other prescribed
accounting guidelines or published best practices for public
company financial forecasts or projections. Morgan Joseph was
specifically informed by management of Lear and AREP,
respectively, that these financial forecasts and forward-looking
financial data were based on numerous variables and assumptions
developed and applied in good faith by management of Lear and
AREP, respectively. These variables and assumptions are
inherently uncertain, including, without limitation, factors
related to general market, industry, economic and competitive
conditions. Accordingly, Morgan Joseph was informed that actual
results could vary significantly from those set forth in such
financial forecasts and forward-looking financial data.
No company or transaction used in the analyses described below
is identical to AREP, Lear or the proposed amended merger.
Accordingly, an analysis of the results thereof necessarily
involves complex considerations and judgments concerning
differences in financial and operating characteristics and other
factors that could affect the proposed amended merger or the
public trading or other values of AREP, Lear or companies to
which they are being compared. Mathematical analysis (such as
determining an average or median) is not in itself a meaningful
method of using selected acquisition or company data. In
addition, in performing such analyses, Morgan Joseph relied,
without any independent verification, on projections prepared by
research analysts at established securities firms, any of which
may or may not prove to be accurate.
The following is a summary of the material analyses performed by
Morgan Joseph in connection with the New Morgan Joseph Opinion.
Selected
Comparable Transactions Analysis
Using publicly available information, Morgan Joseph reviewed the
purchase prices and multiples paid in the following selected
merger and acquisition transactions which it deemed relevant in
reviewing the financial terms of the proposed merger (the
Selected Transactions), presented below in Acquiror/
Target format (with parenthetical reverse chronological date of
announcement):
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Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Goldman Sachs
Capital Partners/ Harman International Industries, Inc.
(April 26, 2007);
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Robert Bosch/ Pacifica Group Ltd. (October 18, 2006);
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Asahi Tec Corp./ Metaldyne Corp. (September 1, 2006);
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S-15
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EQT Partners/ MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (December 28, 2005);
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BorgWarner Germany/ Beru AG (November 1, 2004);
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Magna International, Inc./Tesma International Inc.
(October 25, 2004);
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Cypress Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners/ Cooper-Standard
Holdings Inc. (September 9, 2004);
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Cypress Group/Dana Corp. (automotive parts division)
(July 9, 2004);
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Cypress Group/Affina Group Inc. (July 9, 2004);
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Carlyle Group/United Components Inc. (May 1, 2003);
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Blackstone Group/TRW Inc. (automotive parts division)
(November 17, 2002);
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Timkin Co./The Torrington Company (October 16, 2002);
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Collins & Aikman Corp./Textron Automotive Trim
(August 7, 2001); and
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Heartland Industrial Partners/Collins & Aikman Corp.
(January 12, 2001).
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Morgan Joseph selected these transactions, among other reasons,
because the targets involved in such transactions operate in the
automotive interior systems supplier industries, the industries
in which Lear operates, and have similar lines of business and
product segments to Lear. No transaction deemed by Morgan Joseph
to meet the selection criteria described in this paragraph was
excluded from Morgan Josephs analysis. However, none of
the target companies or selected transactions is identical or
directly comparable to Lear or the proposed amended merger,
respectively. Accordingly, Morgan Josephs analysis
involved complex considerations and judgments concerning
differences in Lears financial and operating
characteristics relative to the targets in the selected
transactions and other factors that would affect the acquisition
values in the precedent transactions, such as the variability of
earnings, product growth opportunities, the complementary
aspects of an acquisition and conversely the diversification
aspects, and the market conditions affecting opportunities
within the automotive sector over time.
Morgan Joseph applied a methodology similar to the one it used
in its selected publicly traded companies analysis described
below, but relied on multiples derived from merger and
acquisition transactions involving target companies in
industries similar, although not identical, based on their
participation in one or more product segments in which Lear
competes. These product segments include, but are not limited
to, automotive interior seating, electrical distribution systems
and select electronic and other products.
Morgan Joseph considered all of the Selected Transactions (which
ranged in transaction value from $7.862 billion to
$452.8 million) as a group and did not view any single
transaction to be more relevant than the others. The financial
information reviewed by Morgan Joseph included the purchase
prices and multiples paid by the acquiring company of the
acquired companys financial results over the twelve-month
period preceding the acquisition (LTM). The table
below summarizes the results of this analysis:
Multiples
Observed from the Selected Transactions
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25th
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50th
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75th
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Percentile
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Percentile
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Percentile
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Multiple of Transaction
Value:
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/LTM Sales
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0.6
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x
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0.7
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x
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0.7
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x
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/LTM EBITDA(1)
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5.2
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x
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6.1
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x
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6.9
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x
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/LTM EBIT(2)
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8.3
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x
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10.2
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x
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10.8
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x
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(1) |
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EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization. |
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(2) |
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EBIT means earnings before interest and taxes. |
Using the multiples calculated above and applying Morgan
Josephs considerations and judgments discussed above,
Morgan Joseph derived a valuation range of 5.2x to 6.9x
Lears LTM EBITDA as of March 31, 2007 of
S-16
$780.1 million to arrive at an implied share price range
for Lear of $25.67 to $42.31, yielding a median implied share
price of $34.15. The merger consideration is within this range
of implied share prices. The range of EBITDA multiples applied
by Morgan Joseph reflect the 25th percentile, at the low
end, and the 75th percentile, at the high end, of the range
of the Selected Transactions.
Selected
Publicly Traded Companies Analysis
Using publicly available information, Morgan Joseph reviewed the
stock prices (at July 6, 2007) and selected market
trading multiples of the following companies (the Selected
Companies):
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American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.;
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Dana Corp.;
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Faurecia SA;
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Johnson Controls Inc.;
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Magna International, Inc.;
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TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.;
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Valeo SA; and
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Visteon Corp.
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Although none of the Selected Companies is directly comparable
to Lear in all respects, they were chosen because they are
publicly traded companies with operations, lines of business,
product segments and market size that for purposes of analysis
may be considered similar to certain of Lears operations,
lines of business, product segments and market size.
The financial information reviewed by Morgan Joseph included
market trading multiples exhibited by the Selected Companies
with respect to their LTM and 2007 estimated financial
performance. The table below provides a summary of these
comparisons:
Multiples
Observed from the Selected Companies
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25th
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50th
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75th
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Percentile
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Percentile
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Percentile
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Multiple of Enterprise
Value:
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/LTM EBITDA
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5.0
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x
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6.2
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x
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6.9
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x
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/2007 Estimated EBITDA
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5.1
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x
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5.7
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x
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5.9
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x
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The multiples shown in the table above exclude Johnson Controls
from the averages. Johnson Controls is a direct competitor of
Lear in the automotive seating business. However, approximately
43% of Johnson Controls revenues in fiscal 2006 and
approximately 66% of operating income, excluding restructuring
costs, were derived from businesses other than Johnson
Controls automotive interior systems and products. As a
result, Morgan Joseph believes that Johnson Controls multiples
were not indicative of comparable public companies in the
automotive parts industry. Other than Johnson Controls, no
company deemed by Morgan Joseph to meet the selection criteria
described above was excluded from Morgan Josephs analysis.
The financial information reviewed by Morgan Joseph also
included market trading multiples exhibited by Lear with respect
to its LTM and 2007 estimated financial performance, as set
forth in the table below:
Multiples
for Lear
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Multiple of Enterprise
Value:
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/LTM EBITDA
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6.4x
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/2007 Estimated
EBITDA
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6.0x
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S-17
Because of the inherent differences in the business operations,
financial condition and prospects of Lear, and the business
operations and financial condition of the Selected Companies,
Morgan Joseph did not rely solely on the quantitative results of
the selected publicly traded companies analysis. Morgan Joseph
also made non-mathematical, qualitative and subjective judgments
concerning differences between the characteristics of the
comparable companies and Lear which, in its judgment, could
affect the values of such companies. The non-mathematical
qualitative and subjective judgments made by Morgan Joseph
included an evaluation of the liquidity, stockholder base,
trading volume, different stages of maturity and industry cycle
of each Selected Company, as well as any recent extraordinary
corporate transactions involving each Selected Company.
Using the multiples calculated above and applying the
qualitative and subjective judgments of Morgan Joseph described
above, Morgan Joseph derived a share price valuation range for
Lear of $23.48 to $42.61, yielding a median implied share price
of $35.85. The $37.25 per share merger consideration is within
this range of implied share prices. The range of EBITDA
multiples applied by Morgan Joseph reflect the
25th percentile, at the low end, and the
75th percentile, at the high end, of the range of the
Selected Companies.
Discounted
Cash Flow Analysis
Morgan Joseph selected the range of discount rates used for this
analysis by calculating Lears implied weighted average
cost of capital (WACC). Lears WACC was
calculated by using various assumptions, including, but not
limited to, an assumed cost of equity of 14.5% to 18.3%, an
assumed pre-tax cost of debt of 8.5%, and an assumed marginal
tax rate of 38%. These assumptions were based upon Morgan
Josephs judgment relating to the debt to total
capitalization ratios of companies within the automotive
products sector which are comparable in size
and/or
performance to Lear, current effective tax rates, current debt
market rates for debt issues relevant to Lear, current risk free
rates of return, and measures of risk for Lear and its
competitors, suppliers and customers within the automotive
sector. The WACC calculation resulted in an approximate 11%
discount rate for Lear which was used as a midpoint for the
10%-12% discount rate range.
Morgan Joseph performed a discounted cash flow analysis to
estimate the present value of the stand-alone, unlevered,
after-tax free cash flows that Lear was projected to generate
over the calendar years 2007 through 2010, based on internal
estimates provided by Lears and AREPs managements.
Unlevered free cash flow represents the amount of cash generated
and available for principal, interest and dividend payments
after providing for the funding of Lears ongoing business
operations. These cash flows were discounted to a present value
using discount rates ranging from 10.0% to 12.0%. To calculate
the implied enterprise value range for Lear, the discounted cash
flows were added to a range of estimated terminal
(end date) values, which was calculated by using the EBITDA Exit
Multiple Methodology.
This method calculates the terminal value by applying multiples
ranging from 5.0x to 6.0x, based on EBITDA multiples paid as per
the comparable transactions analysis, to the projected 2010
EBITDA of Lear. The implied terminal values were then discounted
to present value using 10.0% to 12.0% discount rates. The
present values of the implied terminal values of Lear were then
added to the present value of the after-tax free cash flows to
arrive at a range of enterprise values. The table below provides
a summary of the range of enterprise values.
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Enterprise Value
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Net Present
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Value of
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Free Cash
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Flow as of
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March 31,
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2007(1)
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5.0x
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5.5x
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6.0x
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WACC
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10.0%
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$
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1,267.9
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$
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4,550.0
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$
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4,878.2
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$
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5,206.4
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11.0%
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$
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1,239.0
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$
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4,411.5
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$
|
4,728.7
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$
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5,046.0
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12.0%
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$
|
1,211.1
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$
|
4,278.5
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$
|
4,585.2
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$
|
4,892.0
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(1) |
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Represents the net present value of free cash flow as of
March 31, 2007 for the years 2007 through 2010. |
S-18
This analysis indicated an implied equity value per share range
for Lear. The table below provides a summary of the range of
implied equity value per share range.
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Equity Value per Share(1)
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Net Debt
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as of
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March 31,
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2007(2)
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5.0x
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5.5x
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6.0x
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WACC
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10.0%
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$
|
2,014.3
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$
|
31.91
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$
|
36.04
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$
|
40.17
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11.0%
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$
|
2,014.3
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$
|
30.17
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$
|
34.16
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$
|
38.15
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12.0%
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$
|
2,014.3
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$
|
28.49
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$
|
32.35
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$
|
36.21
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(1) |
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Based on 79.5 million fully diluted shares outstanding
calculated using the treasury method as of May 23, 2007. |
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(2) |
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Includes the book value of the Companys interior joint
ventures and excludes amounts outstanding under asset backed
securitizations, factoring facilities and minority interests. |
The discounted cash flow analysis produced values that were
within the range of the $37.25 per share consideration to be
paid by AREP in the amended merger.
Premiums
Paid Analysis
Morgan Joseph reviewed the premiums paid for 317 public domestic
M&A transactions announced between February 2, 2006
and February 2, 2007 having transaction values of between
$1.0 billion and $10.0 billion. Morgan Joseph
then compared the average premiums of these transactions based
on per share market prices of the target company at reference
points of one day prior to transaction announcement, one week
prior to transaction announcement and one month prior to
transaction announcement, respectively, to the implied premium
based on the merger consideration of $37.25 per share in cash to
Lears stock price at the same reference points to the
original announcement date as well as to Lears average
stock price over a one-month, three-month and twelve-month
period. The following table shows the average premiums of the
above mentioned transactions and the implied premium based on
the merger consideration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target Offer Premium to
|
|
|
|
1 Day Prior
|
|
|
1 Week Prior
|
|
|
1 Month Prior
|
|
|
Average Offer Premium
|
|
|
16.6
|
%
|
|
|
20.0
|
%
|
|
|
24.9
|
%
|
Lear Merger Offer Premium
|
|
|
7.4
|
%
|
|
|
7.7
|
%
|
|
|
33.7
|
%
|
AREP and Morgan Joseph entered into an engagement letter
agreement dated February 1, 2007 (the Original
Engagement Letter) relating to the services to be provided
by Morgan Joseph to the API Committees in connection with the
$36.00 per share consideration to be paid by AREP to Lears
shareholders pursuant to the merger agreement. Pursuant to the
terms of the Original Engagement Letter AREP paid $375,000 to
Morgan Joseph upon the execution thereof and $375,000 was paid
to Morgan Joseph upon its delivery to the API Committees of the
Original Morgan Joseph Opinion. AREP also agreed to reimburse
Morgan Joseph for its reasonable out-of -pocket expenses
incurred in connection with such original engagement, including
certain fees and disbursements of its legal counsel. Pursuant to
a new engagement letter agreement dated July 8, 2007 (the
New Engagement Letter and, together with the
Original Engagement Letter, the Engagement Letters),
Morgan Joseph agreed to provide to the API Committees certain
services and to provide the New Morgan Joseph Opinion relating
to the $37.25 per share consideration to be paid by AREP to
Lears shareholders under Amendment No. 1 to the
merger agreement. AREP also agreed to reimburse Morgan Joseph
for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection
with such new engagement, including certain fees and
disbursements of its legal counsel. On July 8, 2007, prior
to the execution of Amendment No. 1 to the merger
agreement, Morgan Joseph delivered to the API Committees the New
Morgan Joseph Opinion (as described above). Under the terms of
the New Engagement Letter, Morgan Joseph is owed $450,000 for
such delivery of the New Morgan Joseph Opinion. Under the New
Engagement Letter, Morgan Joseph is further owed $75,000 for
certain services performed at the request of the API Committees
which are unrelated to the amended merger but which pertain to
AREPs intended issuance to affiliates of Mr. Icahn of
newly issued MLP Units in exchange for 2,400,000 shares of
Lear common stock owned by such affiliates of
S-19
Mr. Icahn. Such issuance and exchange transaction is
expected to occur following the special meeting of Lears
shareholders to vote on the amended merger but prior to the
closing of the amended merger.
The fees and expense reimbursements paid to Morgan Joseph under
the Original Engagement Letter and to be paid to Morgan Joseph
under the New Engagement Letter were not and are not contingent
upon consummation of the merger or the amended merger or upon
any of the conclusions reached in the Morgan Joseph Opinions
delivered to the API Committees. Under each of the Engagement
Letters, AREP agreed to indemnify Morgan Joseph against
liabilities relating to or arising out of its engagements,
including liabilities under the U.S. federal securities
laws.
In the ordinary course of business during the past two years,
Morgan Joseph (i) was engaged by the API Committees to
provide fairness opinions to the API Committees in January 2005
in connection with certain acquisition transactions similar in
nature, but unrelated to, the proposed amended merger which
involve the acquisition by AREP of certain companies in which
affiliates of Mr. Icahn owned capital stock, for which
Morgan Joseph received aggregate fees of $1,000,000, and
(ii) has been engaged by the API Committees to provide
fairness opinions to the API Committees in connection with
(a) a potential transaction involving the acquisition by
AREP of certain debt instruments and the assumption of certain
rights and obligations under certain derivative securities of a
certain publicly traded company held by affiliates of
Mr. Icahn, for which Morgan Joseph would receive fees of
$750,000 upon delivery of its opinion to the API Committees and
(b) an additional potential transaction involving the
acquisition by AREP of all of the capital stock owned by
affiliates of Mr. Icahn of a certain closely held company,
for which Morgan Joseph has received a fee of $375,000 upon
execution of an engagement letter in connection therewith and
would receive an additional fee of $375,000 upon delivery of its
opinion to the API Committees.
In accordance with each of the Engagement Letters, the Morgan
Joseph Opinions were addressed solely to the API Committees,
solely for their use in connection with their review and
evaluation of the consideration proposed to be paid by AREP in
the merger and the amended merger. Neither the Morgan Joseph
Opinions nor their respective underlying financial analyses may
be relied on by any person or entity other than the members of
the API Committees, in their capacity as such, without the prior
written consent of Morgan Joseph. In accordance with the
Engagement Letters, no holders of MLP Units, or any other AREP
constituent, person or entity can rely or assert reliance on the
Morgan Joseph Opinions or the respective underlying financial
analyses in connection with any voting, credit extension, audit
or other consideration or assessment of the relative merits,
risks or financial reporting requirements of the merger or the
amended merger, or otherwise. Morgan Josephs view is that
its duties in connection with the Morgan Joseph Opinions extend
solely to the API Committees and that it has no legal
responsibilities in respect thereof to any other person or
entity under the laws of the State of New York, the laws which
govern the Engagement Letters between AREP and Morgan Joseph.
Morgan Joseph states in the Engagement Letters that it would
likely assert the substance of this view and the disclaimer
described above as a defense to claims and allegations, if any,
that might hypothetically be brought or asserted against it by
any persons or entities other than the API Committees with
respect to the Morgan Joseph Opinions and its financial analyses
thereunder. Morgan Joseph also states, however, that because no
court has definitely ruled to date on the availability of this
defense to a financial advisor who furnished to its client for
its exclusive use a fairness opinion, this issue necessarily
would have to be judicially resolved on the merits in a final
and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction. The Engagement Letters provide that there can be
no assurance that such a court would apply the laws of the state
of New York to the analyses and ultimate resolution of this
issue if it were to be properly briefed by the relevant
litigants and presented to the court. The Engagement Letters
also provide that, in all cases, the hypothetical assertion or
availability of such a defense would have absolutely no effect
on Morgan Josephs rights and responsibilities under
U.S. federal securities laws, or the rights and
responsibilities of the API Committees under applicable state
law or under U.S. federal securities laws.
S-20
Interests
of Lears Directors and Executive Officers in the
Merger
The following information reflects the effects of Amendment
No. 1 and updates certain information in Special
Factors Interests of Lears Directors and
Executive Officers in the Merger beginning on page 59
of the definitive proxy statement:
Aggregate
Merger Payments
The following table shows the total amounts that would be
payable to our directors and executive officers upon
consummation of the merger, based on the merger consideration of
$37.25 per share in cash, for (1) shares of Lears
common stock that they hold directly and (2) the
accelerated payment of all outstanding equity and other awards
that they hold, in each case as of May 14, 2007. Values of
outstanding awards that accrue interest or whose payout values
increase pro rata over time were calculated as of June 29,
2007. Amounts under Aggregate Payments on Outstanding
Awards in the table below represent the sum of all
payments upon consummation of the merger on all outstanding
awards held by directors and executive officers as of
May 14, 2007. The treatment of each type of outstanding
award is individually described and quantified in more detail in
the subsequent tables beginning on
page S-23.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments for Direct Stock Holdings
|
|
|
Payments on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Merger
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Total Merger
|
|
|
|
Shares (#)(1)
|
|
|
Consideration ($)
|
|
|
Awards ($)(5)(6)
|
|
|
Payments ($)(6)
|
|
|
Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert E. Rossiter
|
|
|
93,957
|
(2)
|
|
|
3,499,898
|
|
|
|
8,793,573
|
|
|
|
12,293,471
|
|
James H. Vandenberghe
|
|
|
63,003
|
|
|
|
2,346,862
|
|
|
|
5,060,902
|
|
|
|
7,407,764
|
|
Douglas G. DelGrosso
|
|
|
34,813
|
(3)
|
|
|
1,296,784
|
|
|
|
4,035,185
|
|
|
|
5,331,969
|
|
Daniel A. Ninivaggi
|
|
|
12,914
|
|
|
|
481,047
|
|
|
|
2,197,009
|
|
|
|
2,678,056
|
|
Raymond E. Scott
|
|
|
8,021
|
|
|
|
298,782
|
|
|
|
2,135,837
|
|
|
|
2,434,619
|
|
James M. Brackenbury
|
|
|
6,900
|
|
|
|
257,025
|
|
|
|
1,713,815
|
|
|
|
1,970,840
|
|
Shari L. Burgess
|
|
|
2,566
|
|
|
|
95,584
|
|
|
|
656,606
|
|
|
|
752,190
|
|
Roger A. Jackson
|
|
|
7,979
|
|
|
|
297,218
|
|
|
|
2,039,690
|
|
|
|
2,336,908
|
|
James L. Murawski
|
|
|
1,189
|
|
|
|
44,290
|
|
|
|
563,873
|
|
|
|
608,163
|
|
Matthew J. Simoncini
|
|
|
2,780
|
|
|
|
103,555
|
|
|
|
1,244,223
|
|
|
|
1,347,778
|
|
Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David E. Fry
|
|
|
1,103
|
|
|
|
41,087
|
|
|
|
363,835
|
|
|
|
404,922
|
|
Vincent J. Intrieri
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
125,831
|
|
|
|
125,831
|
|
Conrad L. Mallett
|
|
|
475
|
|
|
|
17,694
|
|
|
|
218,922
|
|
|
|
236,616
|
|
Larry W. McCurdy
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
74,500
|
|
|
|
953,502
|
|
|
|
1,028,002
|
|
Roy E. Parrott
|
|
|
3,230
|
|
|
|
120,318
|
|
|
|
232,515
|
|
|
|
352,833
|
|
David P. Spalding
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
223,500
|
|
|
|
838,303
|
|
|
|
1,061,803
|
|
James A. Stern
|
|
|
6,400
|
(4)
|
|
|
238,400
|
|
|
|
875,373
|
|
|
|
1,113,773
|
|
Henry D.G. Wallace
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
37,250
|
|
|
|
297,095
|
|
|
|
334,345
|
|
Richard F. Wallman
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
55,875
|
|
|
|
253,996
|
|
|
|
309,871
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Amounts shown exclude indirect holdings in 401(k) plan stock
accounts. Shares held in 401(k) accounts will be sold and the
cash consideration will be reallocated in the remaining accounts
under the 401(k) plan. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes 45,000 shares held in a grantor retained annuity
trust for the benefit of Mr. Rossiters children. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes 19,713 shares held in trust by
Mr. DelGrossos spouse. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 2,400 shares held in trust for
Mr. Sterns children. |
|
(5) |
|
For executive officers, includes payments on outstanding stock
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units (and
related dividend equivalent accounts), performance shares and
cash-settled performance units. |
S-21
|
|
|
|
|
For directors, includes payments on outstanding stock options,
deferred stock units and restricted units and payments of
dividend and interest account balances. Specific amounts payable
for each type of award are shown in more detail in the tables
beginning on
page S-23. |
|
(6) |
|
Represents gross payments. Actual payments will be subject to
applicable withholding taxes. |
Equity
Awards
Our Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan provides for accelerated
vesting or payout of equity awards upon a change in control,
even for an executive who does not terminate employment. These
benefits, which apply to all employees and outside directors who
hold equity awards, include the following:
|
|
|
|
|
stock options and stock appreciation rights become immediately
exercisable and remain so throughout their entire term;
|
|
|
|
restrictions on restricted stock units lapse; and
|
|
|
|
a pro rata number of performance shares and performance units
vest and pay out as of the date of the change in control. The
amount is determined based on the length of time in the
performance period that elapsed prior to the effective date of
the change in control, assuming achievement of all relevant
performance objectives at target levels.
|
In connection with the merger agreement, we entered into
amendments of the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan award
agreements of each of Messrs. Rossiter, DelGrosso,
Vandenberghe, Ninivaggi, Brackenbury and Scott. Pursuant to
these amendments, restrictions on restricted stock units will
not lapse, and performance shares and performance units will not
vest, in connection with the merger until two business days
after the merger closes. The affected awards will become payable
at that time.
Stock
Options
As of May 14, 2007, there were approximately
722,200 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to
stock options granted under our equity incentive plans to our
current executive officers and directors. Under the terms of the
equity plans and the merger agreement, except as otherwise
agreed to by Parent and a holder of an option, each outstanding
option held by an executive officer or director that is
unexercised as of the effective time of the merger will become
fully vested, cancelled and converted into the right to receive
a cash payment equal to the number of shares of our common stock
underlying the outstanding options multiplied by the amount (if
any) by which $37.25 exceeds the option exercise price, without
interest and less any applicable withholding taxes.
S-22
The following table identifies, for each of our directors and
executive officers, (1) the aggregate number of shares of
our common stock subject to outstanding options with an exercise
price below $37.25 as of May 14, 2007 (except for options
to purchase 3,750 shares of our common stock that expired
on May 25, 2007 by their terms), all of which are fully
vested, (2) the weighted average exercise price of these
in-the-money options, (3) the aggregate value
of these in-the-money options and (4) the
number of shares of our common stock underlying
underwater options as of May 14, 2007 to be
cancelled upon the consummation of the merger. The information
in the table assumes that all options remain outstanding on the
closing date of the merger and that Parent and the holder have
not otherwise agreed to separate treatment of these options.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwater
|
|
|
|
In-the-Money Options(1)
|
|
|
Options to be
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cancelled in
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merger(2)
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
Name
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Price ($)
|
|
|
Value ($)
|
|
|
Underlying Options
|
|
|
Robert E. Rossiter(3)
|
|
|
81,250
|
|
|
|
35.93
|
|
|
|
107,250
|
|
|
|
170,000
|
|
James H. Vandenberghe(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
Douglas G. DelGrosso
|
|
|
32,500
|
|
|
|
35.93
|
|
|
|
42,900
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
Daniel A. Ninivaggi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raymond E. Scott
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,000
|
|
James M. Brackenbury
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,000
|
|
Shari L. Burgess
|
|
|
1,950
|
|
|
|
35.93
|
|
|
|
2,574
|
|
|
|
7,750
|
|
Roger A. Jackson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68,000
|
|
James L. Murawski
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew J. Simoncini
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
David E. Fry(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
Vincent J. Intrieri(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conrad L. Mallett(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
Larry W. McCurdy(3)
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
29.03
|
|
|
|
20,550
|
|
|
|
6,500
|
|
Roy E. Parrott(3)
|
|
|
1,250
|
|
|
|
35.93
|
|
|
|
1,650
|
|
|
|
5,250
|
|
David P. Spalding(3)
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
29.03
|
|
|
|
20,550
|
|
|
|
6,500
|
|
James A. Stern(3)
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
29.03
|
|
|
|
20,550
|
|
|
|
6,500
|
|
Henry D.G. Wallace(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard F. Wallman(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Exercise price of options is below the $37.25 per share merger
consideration. |
|
(2) |
|
Exercise price of options is above the $37.25 per share merger
consideration. |
|
(3) |
|
The individual is a director. |
Stock
Appreciation Rights
As of May 14, 2007, there were approximately 769,218 stock
appreciation rights (SARs) granted under our equity incentive
plans to our current executive officers. None of our
non-employee directors has been granted stock appreciation
rights. Under the terms of the incentive plans and the merger
agreement, except as otherwise agreed to by Parent and a holder
of a stock appreciation right, each outstanding stock
appreciation right that is unexercised as of the effective time
of the merger will become fully vested (if not already),
cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment
equal to the number of outstanding shares of our common stock
underlying the stock appreciation rights multiplied by the
amount by which $37.25 exceeds the stock appreciation right
exercise price, without interest and less any applicable
withholding tax.
S-23
The following table identifies, for each of our executive
officers, the aggregate number of shares subject to stock
appreciation rights (which are all in the money) as
of May 14, 2007, the weighted-average exercise price of
unvested stock appreciation rights, the value of the unvested
stock appreciation rights, the weighted-average exercise price
of the aggregate (vested and unvested) stock appreciation rights
and the value of the aggregate stock appreciation rights. The
information in the table assumes that all these stock
appreciation rights remain outstanding as of the closing of the
merger and that Parent and the holder have not otherwise agreed
to separate treatment of these stock appreciation rights.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Exercise
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Price of
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
Price of Vested
|
|
|
Value of Vested
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Unvested
|
|
|
Unvested
|
|
|
and Unvested
|
|
|
and Unvested
|
|
Name
|
|
of SARs
|
|
|
SARs ($)
|
|
|
SARs ($)
|
|
|
SARs ($)
|
|
|
SARs ($)
|
|
|
Robert E. Rossiter
|
|
|
222,750
|
|
|
|
29.21
|
|
|
|
1,383,885
|
|
|
|
28.88
|
|
|
|
1,864,418
|
|
James H. Vandenberghe
|
|
|
123,750
|
|
|
|
29.21
|
|
|
|
768,825
|
|
|
|
28.88
|
|
|
|
1,035,788
|
|
Douglas G. DelGrosso
|
|
|
123,750
|
|
|
|
29.21
|
|
|
|
768,825
|
|
|
|
28.88
|
|
|
|
1,035,788
|
|
Daniel A. Ninivaggi
|
|
|
70,950
|
|
|
|
29.64
|
|
|
|
437,195
|
|
|
|
29.28
|
|
|
|
565,472
|
|
Raymond E. Scott
|
|
|
59,400
|
|
|
|
29.21
|
|
|
|
369,036
|
|
|
|
28.88
|
|
|
|
497,178
|
|
James M. Brackenbury
|
|
|
45,900
|
|
|
|
29.21
|
|
|
|
369,036
|
|
|
|
29.21
|
|
|
|
369,036
|
|
Shari L. Burgess
|
|
|
17,199
|
|
|
|
29.63
|
|
|
|
106,040
|
|
|
|
29.27
|
|
|
|
137,248
|
|
Roger A. Jackson
|
|
|
55,350
|
|
|
|
29.31
|
|
|
|
343,008
|
|
|
|
28.96
|
|
|
|
458,852
|
|
James L. Murawski
|
|
|
17,199
|
|
|
|
29.63
|
|
|
|
106,040
|
|
|
|
29.27
|
|
|
|
137,248
|
|
Matthew J. Simoncini
|
|
|
32,970
|
|
|
|
30.06
|
|
|
|
203,333
|
|
|
|
29.70
|
|
|
|
248,924
|
|
Restricted
Stock Units
As of May 14, 2007, there were approximately 512,877
restricted stock units outstanding under our equity incentive
plans held by our current executive officers. Our non-employee
directors do not hold any restricted stock units. Under the
terms of the equity incentive plans, except as otherwise agreed
to by Parent and a holder of a restricted stock unit, each
outstanding restricted stock unit that is outstanding as of the
consummation of the merger will become fully vested, cancelled
and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to
the number of outstanding restricted stock units multiplied by
$37.25, without interest and less any applicable withholding tax.
S-24
The following table identifies, for each of our executive
officers, the aggregate number of shares of our common stock
subject to outstanding units as of May 14, 2007 and the
value of these units that will become fully vested in connection
with the merger. The table also identifies the estimated
aggregate value as of June 29, 2007 of the dividend
equivalent accounts associated with the restricted stock units
for each executive officer. These dividend equivalent accounts
are paid out upon vesting of the underlying restricted stock
units. The information in the table assumes that all these units
remain outstanding on the closing date of the merger and that
Parent and the holder have not otherwise agreed to separate
treatment of such restricted stock units.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Value
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
of Dividend
|
|
Name
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Value ($)
|
|
|
Equivalents ($)
|
|
|
Robert E. Rossiter
|
|
|
158,555
|
|
|
|
5,906,174
|
|
|
|
171,918
|
|
James H. Vandenberghe
|
|
|
96,597
|
|
|
|
3,598,238
|
|
|
|
100,452
|
|
Douglas G. DelGrosso
|
|
|
69,669
|
|
|
|
2,595,170
|
|
|
|
63,622
|
|
Daniel A. Ninivaggi
|
|
|
37,968
|
|
|
|
1,414,308
|
|
|
|
34,712
|
|
Raymond E. Scott
|
|
|
38,925
|
|
|
|
1,449,956
|
|
|
|
35,649
|
|
James M. Brackenbury
|
|
|
31,119
|
|
|
|
1,159,183
|
|
|
|
31,946
|
|
Shari L. Burgess
|
|
|
11,052
|
|
|
|
411,687
|
|
|
|
11,194
|
|
Roger A. Jackson
|
|
|
37,136
|
|
|
|
1,383,316
|
|
|
|
38,731
|
|
James L. Murawski
|
|
|
8,756
|
|
|
|
326,161
|
|
|
|
7,492
|
|
Matthew J. Simoncini
|
|
|
23,100
|
|
|
|
860,475
|
|
|
|
16,450
|
|
Performance
Shares
As of May 14, 2007, there were approximately
86,566 shares of our common stock subject to performance
shares held by our current executive officers, which generally
vest at the end of the respective three-year performance periods
if performance goals are met. Our non-employee directors have
not been granted performance shares. At the effective time of
the merger, except as otherwise agreed by a holder and Parent,
all outstanding performance shares (whether vested or unvested)
will be cancelled and converted pro-rata into the right to
receive a cash payment equal to the target number of shares of
common stock previously subject to performance shares multiplied
by $37.25, without interest and less any applicable withholding
taxes, based on the number of completed months that have elapsed
within the applicable
36-month
performance period as of the effective date.
The following table identifies, for each of our executive
officers, the aggregate number of shares of our common stock
subject to performance shares as of May 14, 2007, the
pro-rata number of the performance shares as of June 29,
2007 and the value of those pro-rata performance shares that
will become fully vested and payable in connection with the
merger. The information in the table assumes that all
performance shares remain outstanding on the closing date of the
merger and that Parent and the holder have not otherwise agreed
to separate treatment of such performance shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Pro Rata
|
|
|
Aggregate Pro
|
|
|
|
Performance
|
|
|
Performance
|
|
|
Rata
|
|
Name
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Shares @ 6/29/07
|
|
|
Value ($)
|
|
|
Robert E. Rossiter
|
|
|
28,470
|
|
|
|
17,250
|
|
|
|
642,563
|
|
James H. Vandenberghe
|
|
|
11,971
|
|
|
|
7,253
|
|
|
|
270,174
|
|
Douglas G. DelGrosso
|
|
|
11,045
|
|
|
|
6,482
|
|
|
|
241,455
|
|
Daniel A. Ninivaggi
|
|
|
6,244
|
|
|
|
3,732
|
|
|
|
139,017
|
|
Raymond E. Scott
|
|
|
5,686
|
|
|
|
3,384
|
|
|
|
126,054
|
|
James M. Brackenbury
|
|
|
5,706
|
|
|
|
3,400
|
|
|
|
126,650
|
|
Shari L. Burgess
|
|
|
3,746
|
|
|
|
2,239
|
|
|
|
83,403
|
|
Roger A. Jackson
|
|
|
5,871
|
|
|
|
3,538
|
|
|
|
131,791
|
|
James L. Murawski
|
|
|
3,717
|
|
|
|
2,214
|
|
|
|
82,472
|
|
Matthew J. Simoncini
|
|
|
4,110
|
|
|
|
2,453
|
|
|
|
91,374
|
|
S-25
Cash-Settled
Performance Units
As of May 14, 2007, there were approximately 77,250
cash-settled performance units held by our current executive
officers, all of which were unvested. Our non-employee directors
have not been granted performance units. At the effective time
of the merger, except as otherwise agreed by a holder and
Parent, all outstanding performance units will be cancelled and
converted pro-rata into the right to receive a cash payment
equal to the target number of units multiplied by the stated
per-unit
value of $30.00, without interest and less any applicable
withholding taxes, based on the number of completed months that
have elapsed within the
36-month
performance period as of the effective date.
The following table identifies, for each of our executive
officers, the aggregate number of performance units as of
May 14, 2007, the pro-rata portion of the performance units
as of June 29, 2007 and the value of those pro-rata
performance units that will be paid to the executive officers in
connection with the merger. The information in the table assumes
that all performance units remain outstanding on the closing
date of the merger and that Parent and the holder have not
otherwise agreed to separate treatment of such performance units.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Pro Rata
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
Performance
|
|
|
Performance
|
|
|
Pro Rata
|
|
Name
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Units @ 6/29/07
|
|
|
Value ($)
|
|
|
Robert E. Rossiter
|
|
|
20,250
|
|
|
|
3,375
|
|
|
|
101,250
|
|
James H. Vandenberghe
|
|
|
11,250
|
|
|
|
1,875
|
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
Douglas G. DelGrosso
|
|
|
11,250
|
|
|
|
1,875
|
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
Daniel A. Ninivaggi
|
|
|
8,700
|
|
|
|
1,450
|
|
|
|
43,500
|
|
Raymond E. Scott
|
|
|
5,400
|
|
|
|
900
|
|
|
|
27,000
|
|
James M. Brackenbury
|
|
|
5,400
|
|
|
|
900
|
|
|
|
27,000
|
|
Shari L. Burgess
|
|
|
2,100
|
|
|
|
350
|
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
Roger A. Jackson
|
|
|
5,400
|
|
|
|
900
|
|
|
|
27,000
|
|
James L. Murawski
|
|
|
2,100
|
|
|
|
350
|
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
Matthew J. Simoncini
|
|
|
5,400
|
|
|
|
900
|
|
|
|
27,000
|
|
For a more detailed description of the compensation payable
through equity awards and otherwise to each of our five highest
paid executive officers following a change of control, please
see Executive Compensation Potential Payments
Upon Termination or Change of Control beginning on
page 162 of the definitive proxy statement.
Director
Compensation Plan
Pursuant to the Lear Corporation Outside Directors Compensation
Plan, each non-employee director receives annually on the last
business day of each January, restricted units representing
shares of Lear common stock having a value of $90,000 on the
date of the grant. These restricted units vest in equal
installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the
grant date and the value of the vested units is payable in cash
at such time. Directors may elect to defer receipt of these cash
amounts into stock unit accounts
and/or
interest bearing accounts, which accrue interest at the prime
rate. During the vesting period, non-employee directors receive
credits in the interest account equal to amounts that would be
paid as dividends on the shares represented by the restricted
units. Non-employee directors may also elect to defer receipt of
their quarterly cash retainer and meeting fees into the stock
unit or interest accounts.
Under the terms of the Outside Directors Compensation Plan, upon
a change of control the unvested restricted units and the
balance of the directors deferred stock unit account will
be converted into an obligation to pay cash in an amount equal
to the number of restricted units and deferred stock units held
in such account (collectively, Units) multiplied by
$37.25. This obligation will be payable or distributable in
accordance with the terms of the agreement, plan or arrangement
relating to such account. In addition, upon the completion of
the merger, the value of all interest accounts held under the
Outside Directors Compensation Plan will be paid to the
respective directors.
At a price per Unit of $37.25, the aggregate value of Units held
by current directors as of May 14, 2007 was approximately
$3.9 million. The following table identifies, for each of
our non-employee directors, the aggregate
S-26
number of Units held as of May 14, 2007, the value of such
Units, and the estimated aggregate value of the directors
dividend and interest accounts as of June 29, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Dividend and
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
Name
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Value ($)
|
|
|
Accounts ($)
|
|
|
David E. Fry
|
|
|
9,660
|
|
|
|
359,835
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
Vincent J. Intrieri
|
|
|
3,378
|
|
|
|
125,831
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conrad L. Mallett
|
|
|
5,724
|
|
|
|
213,219
|
|
|
|
5,703
|
|
Larry W. McCurdy
|
|
|
24,448
|
|
|
|
910,688
|
|
|
|
22,264
|
|
Roy E. Parrott
|
|
|
6,128
|
|
|
|
228,268
|
|
|
|
2,597
|
|
David P. Spalding
|
|
|
18,551
|
|
|
|
691,025
|
|
|
|
126,728
|
|
James A. Stern
|
|
|
22,374
|
|
|
|
833,432
|
|
|
|
21,391
|
|
Henry D.G. Wallace
|
|
|
7,884
|
|
|
|
293,679
|
|
|
|
3,416
|
|
Richard F. Wallman
|
|
|
6,749
|
|
|
|
251,400
|
|
|
|
2,596
|
|
Voting
Agreement
The proxy statement is supplemented to add the following
disclosure in Special Factors Voting
Agreement:
High River Limited Partnership, Koala Holding L.P. and other
entities controlled by Mr. Icahn, which are beneficial
owners of an aggregate of 11,994,943 shares of Lear common
stock, will, prior to the merger, sell such shares to Parent or
its affiliates for $37.25 per share, after which AREP will
contribute such shares to Parent. Alternatively, with respect to
High River Limited Partnership and Koala Holding L.P., entities
controlled by Mr. Icahn, which are beneficial owners of
659,860 and 1,739,131 shares of Lear common stock,
respectively, may transfer such shares, in a series of
transactions, to Parent, as permitted by, and in accordance with
the voting agreement entered into in connection with the merger
agreement. The transfer of shares to AREP, if effected, would be
in exchange for AREP depository units. That transfer and the
subsequent transfers would occur after the stockholders meeting
but before the closing of the merger.
SUMMARY
OF AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE MERGER AGREEMENT
The following describes the material provisions of Amendment
No. 1 to the merger agreement, but is not intended to be an
exhaustive discussion of the amendment. We encourage you to read
Amendment No. 1, as well as the merger agreement as in
effect prior to July 9, 2007, carefully and in its
entirety. The rights and obligations of the parties are governed
by the express terms of the merger agreement, as amended, and
not by this summary or any other information contained in this
supplement.
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference
to Amendment No. 1, which is attached to this supplement as
Annex A and incorporated herein by reference.
Merger
Consideration
Amendment No. 1 provides for an increase in the amount of
consideration payable to Lear stockholders if the merger is
completed to $37.25 per share in cash, without interest and less
any applicable withholding tax, from $36.00 per share.
Amounts
Paid if Stockholders Do Not Approve Merger Agreement
Amendment No. 1 provides that if the requisite stockholder
vote for the merger is not obtained prior to 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on July 16, 2007, subject to certain
exceptions, the Company shall:
|
|
|
|
|
pay Parent an amount in cash equal to $12.5 million,
|
S-27
|
|
|
|
|
issue to Parent 335,570 shares of Lear common stock (the
Additional Shares) (having a value of approximately
$12.5 million based on a price per share of
$37.25), and
|
|
|
|
increase from 24% to 27% of the issued and outstanding shares of
the Company the share ownership limitation under the waiver of
Section 203 of the DGCL (Section 203)
granted in October 2006 by the Company to affiliates of and
funds managed by Mr. Carl Icahn (collectively, the
Termination Consideration).
|
Termination
of Merger Agreement
Amendment No. 1 provides that if the requisite stockholder
vote for the merger is not obtained prior to 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on July 16, 2007, the merger agreement will
automatically terminate. Further, if there is an injunction
relating to the merger, the merger agreement will automatically
terminate upon the earlier of (i) twenty-four
(24) hours after the issuance of the injunction or
(ii) immediately prior to the commencement of the annual
meeting. With respect to either of the foregoing termination
events, AREP will be entitled to receive the Termination
Consideration upon termination of the Merger Agreement. Any
payment of the Termination Consideration by the Company to AREP
will be credited against the
break-up fee
that would otherwise be payable by the Company to AREP in the
event the Company enters into a definitive agreement with
respect to an alternative acquisition proposal within twelve
months after the termination of the merger agreement.
Representations
and Warranties
Amendment No. 1 provides customary representations and
warranties of the parties in connection with the execution of
Amendment No. 1.
Section 203
Waiver
In connection with the execution of Amendment No. 1, the
Company entered into an amendment to the Stock Purchase
Agreement dated as of October 17, 2006 among Icahn Partners
LP, Icahn Partners Master Fund LP and Koala Holding LLC
(collectively, the Icahn Affiliates) and the Company
(the Stock Purchase Agreement). As reflected in the
Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed in October 2006 to
a limited waiver of Section 203 for so long as the sum of
the Icahn Affiliates beneficial ownership of and economic
interest in the Companys common stock does not exceed 24%
of the Companys common stock. The amendment to the Stock
Purchase Agreement reflects the Companys agreement to
increase the share ownership limitation under the limited waiver
from 24% to 27% of the Companys common stock if the
requisite stockholder vote for the merger is not obtained prior
to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 16, 2007, or an
injunction related to the merger is issued that results in a
termination of the merger agreement. The amendment to the Stock
Purchase Agreement also provides that AREP is subject to the
same limitations as the Icahn Affiliates with respect to the
limited waiver of Section 203. The foregoing summary is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the amendment of the
Stock Purchase Agreement, which is attached to this supplement
as Annex B and incorporated herein by reference.
Registration
Rights
In connection with the execution of Amendment No. 1, the
Company also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with
Parent pursuant to which the Company has agreed, within thirty
(30) days after the issuance to Parent of any Additional
Shares pursuant to Amendment No. 1, to (1) prepare and
file a shelf registration statement (the
Registration Statement) with the SEC covering the
resale of the Additional Shares, (2) use its best efforts
to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective
upon filing or as promptly as possible thereafter (but no less
than one hundred and twenty (120) days after the date of
issuance), and (3) use its best efforts to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective under the
Securities Act, for so long as Parent is unable to freely
transfer the Additional Shares. In the event the Company does
not file the Registration Statement within thirty (30) days
after the issuance, the Company will pay Parent an amount equal
to 0.5% of the total value of the Additional Shares (based on a
per share price of $37.25). Furthermore, if the Company is
unable to cause the Registration Statement to be declared
effective within one hundred and twenty (120) days after
the issuance, the Company will pay Parent an amount equal to
0.5% of the total value of the Additional Shares. This amount
will
S-28
increase by an additional 0.5% of the total value of the
Additional Shares every sixty (60) days thereafter, until
the Registration Statement is declared effective, up to a
maximum aggregate amount equal to 5.0% of the total value of the
Additional Shares. The foregoing summary is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement,
which is attached to this supplement as Annex C and
incorporated herein by reference.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC under the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934. You may read and copy any document we file
at the SECs Public Reference Room located at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You
may obtain information on the operation of the public reference
room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
Our filings with the SEC also are available from the SECs
internet site at www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding issuers
that file electronically.
Our website address is www.lear.com. We make available on our
website, free of charge, the periodic reports that we file with
or furnish to the SEC, as well as all amendments to these
reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports
are filed with or furnished to the SEC. The information on our
website is not a part of this proxy statement.
You should rely only on the information contained in this
supplement and the proxy statement to vote your shares at the
annual meeting. We have not authorized anyone to provide you
with information that is different from what is contained in
this supplement and the proxy statement. This supplement is
dated July 9, 2007. You should not assume that the
information contained in this proxy statement is accurate as of
any date other than that date, and neither the mailing of this
proxy statement to stockholders nor the issuance of the merger
consideration pursuant to the merger shall create any
implication to the contrary.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Wendy L. Foss
Vice President, Finance & Administration and
Corporate Secretary
S-29
AMENDMENT
NO. 1
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Amendment No. 1 (the Amendment),
dated as of July 9, 2007, to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of February 9, 2007 (the
Agreement), by and among AREP Car Holdings
Corp., a Delaware corporation (Parent), AREP
Car Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), and Lear
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
Company).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Section 7.5 of the Agreement provides that
the Agreement may be amended in a writing signed on behalf of
Parent, Merger Sub and the Company; and
WHEREAS, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to
amend the Agreement as provided herein.
STATEMENT
OF AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual representations, warranties and covenants and subject to
the conditions herein contained and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions;
References. Unless otherwise specifically defined
herein, each capitalized term used but not defined herein shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in the Agreement. Each
reference to hereof, hereunder,
hereby, herein, and this
Agreement shall, from and after the date of this
Amendment, refer to the Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
ARTICLE 2
AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
Section 2.01. Amendment to
Section 1.6. Section 1.6 of the
Agreement is amended by deleting $36, without
interest and replacing such amount with $37.25,
without interest. All references in the Agreement to the
Merger Consideration shall refer to $37.25,
without interest.
Section 2.02. Amendment to
Section 5.4. Section 5.4 of the
Agreement is further amended by adding the following at the end
thereof:
If the Requisite Stockholder Vote approving the Agreement
shall not have been obtained prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Time, on July 16, 2007, then the Company shall, within
three Business Days thereafter, (x) pay to Parent an amount
in cash equal to $12,500,000 (the Section 5.4
Payment), which amount shall be paid by wire transfer
of immediately available funds to the account or accounts
designated by Parent, and (y) issue to Parent
335,570 Shares (the Section 5.4
Issuance) (which the Company agrees shall be
authorized for listing on the New York Stock Exchange as soon as
practicable, but in any event within five Business days after
July 16, 2007). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
shall not be required to make the Section 5.4 Payment or
the Section 5.4 Issuance if Parent and Merger Sub are in
material breach prior to the Special Meeting of any of their
representations or warranties contained in this Agreement or any
of their covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement to
be performed by them prior to the Special Meeting, and as a
result thereof the conditions contained in
Section 6.3(a) or 6.3(b) are not satisfied or
those that are to be satisfied at Closing are incapable of being
satisfied, unless the Company is in material breach prior to the
Special Meeting of any of its representations or warranties
contained in this Agreement or any of its covenants and
agreements to be performed by it prior to the Special Meeting,
and as a result thereof the conditions contained in Section
6.2(a) or 6.2(b) are not satisfied or those that are
to be satisfied at Closing are incapable of being satisfied.
Prior to the execution of this Amendment, the Share ownership
limitation under the waiver of Section 203 of the
Corporation Law granted by the Company and reflected in the
Stock
A-1
Purchase Agreement (the Section 203
Limitation) has been increased from 24% to 24.5%, as
reflected in the amendment to the Stock Purchase Agreement (the
SPA Amendment) entered into by the Company
and Parent on the date hereof. Immediately prior to the
Section 5.4 Issuance, the Section 203 Limitation shall
be increased from 24.5% to 27%, as reflected in the SPA
Amendment. The increase of the Section 203 Limitation from
24% to 27% is referred to herein as the
Section 203 Increase. Without limiting
the effect of the waiver granted under the terms of the Stock
Purchase Agreement, such waiver shall also inure to the full
benefit of Parent and its Affiliates. Within thirty
(30) days after the issuance of the Shares to Parent
pursuant to this Section 5.4, the Company shall file
a registration statement to register under the Securities Act
the Shares issued to Parent pursuant to this
Section 5.4 pursuant to and in accordance with the
terms of the Registration Rights Agreement entered into by the
Company and Parent on the date hereof.
Section 2.03. Amendment of
Section 7.1(d). Section 7.1(d) of the
Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
this Agreement and the Merger will be terminated and
abandoned automatically without any further action on the part
of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub, (I) if the Requisite
Stockholder Vote approving the Agreement shall not have been
obtained prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 16,
2007; or (II) if after the date hereof, any court or agency
of competent jurisdiction issues an order, injunction, decree or
ruling (in each case, whether temporary, preliminary or
permanent) restraining, restricting, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting or effectively preventing: (i) either or both
or any part of the Section 5.4 Payment, the
Section 5.4 Issuance or the Section 203 Increase;
(ii) the holding of the Special Meeting on or prior to
July 16, 2007 or the vote of the Stockholders on the Merger
on or prior to July 16, 2007; or (iii) any other
aspect of the Merger, this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated herein (any of the foregoing, an
Injunction), any such termination pursuant to
this Section 7.1(d)(II) to be effective upon the
earlier to occur of (A) twenty-four (24) hours after
the issuance of the Injunction or (B) immediately prior to
the commencement of the Special Meeting.
For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting or restricting
any of the other rights of Parent under this Agreement, in the
event that the Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to
Section 7.1(d), then Parent shall (i) be entitled to
all of its rights under Section 5.4 hereof (including,
without limitation, the Section 5.4 Payment, the
Section 5.4 Issuance and the Section 203 Increase),
all of which shall survive termination, and (ii) continue
to be entitled to all of its other rights hereunder which by the
terms of this Agreement survive such termination (including, but
not limited, to its rights under Section 7.4(b)(i)(A) hereof).
Parent hereby agrees that the Company shall adjourn the Special
Meeting to July 16, 2007.
Section 2.05. Amendment to
Section 7.3. Section 7.3 of the
Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is
terminated and the Merger is abandoned pursuant to
Section 7.1, this Agreement, except for the
provisions of Sections 5.3(b), 5.4,
7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and Article VIII
and the cost reimbursement and indemnity provisions of
Sections 5.11, shall forthwith become void and have
no effect, without any liability on the part of any party or its
directors, officers, stockholders or Affiliates.
Section 2.06. Amendment to
Section 7.4(b)(i)(A). Section 7.4(b)(i)(A)
of the Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as
follows:
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Section 7.1(d), and the Company (I) enters into
a definitive agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal
within 12 months after the termination of this Agreement
and such transaction is completed and (II) such Acquisition
Proposal has received approval, if required by applicable Law,
by the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding Shares within such twelve month period,
or
Section 2.07. Amendment to
Section 7.4(d). Section 7.4(d) of the
Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
Superior Fee means an amount in
cash equal to (i) $85,225,000, plus (ii) an amount
equal to the lesser of (A) the sum of Parents and
Merger Subs reasonably documented Expenses and
(B) $15,000,000, which Superior Fee shall be paid (when due
and owing) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to
the account or accounts
A-2
designated by Parent; provided, that the amount of the
Superior Fee payable by the Company to Parent pursuant to
Section 7.4(b)(i)(A) shall be reduced to the extent of
any Section 5.4 Payment actually made or Section 5.4
Issuance actually issued (for purposes of calculating any such
payments made by the Company, the Section 5.4 Issuance
shall be deemed to have a value of $12,500,000).
Section 2.08. Additional Representations and
Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to Merger Sub and Parent as follows:
(a) Authority Relative to Amendment. The
Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Amendment, and to perform its
obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this
Amendment by the Company have been duly and validly authorized
by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to
authorize the execution and delivery of this Amendment. This
Amendment (including without limitation, the Section 203
Increase) has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery by Merger Sub and Parent, this Amendment constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors rights, and to general equitable principles).
Section 2.09 Additional Representations and
Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub. Parent and
Merger Sub hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to
the Company as follows:
(a) Authority Relative to
Amendment. Parent and Merger Sub have all
necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this
Amendment, to perform their respective obligations hereunder.
The execution and delivery of this Amendment by Parent and
Merger Sub have been duly and validly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub,
and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or
Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery
of this Amendment. This Amendment has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company,
this Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger
Sub in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights,
and to general equitable principles).
ARTICLE 3
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01. No Further
Amendment. Except as expressly amended hereby,
the Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all
of the terms and conditions and provisions thereof shall remain
in full force and effect. This Amendment is limited precisely as
written and shall not be deemed to be an amendment to any other
term or condition of the Agreement or any of the documents
referred to therein.
Section 3.02. Effect of
Amendment. This Amendment shall form a part of
the Agreement for all purposes, and each party thereto and
hereto shall be bound hereby.
Section 3.03. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware
(without giving effect to choice of law principles thereof that
would result in the application of the Laws of another
jurisdiction).
Section 3.04. Counterparts. This
Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original, but all of which, taken together,
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[Remainder
of This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
A-3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Merger Sub, Parent, and the Company
have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the date first
written above by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized.
AREP CAR HOLDINGS CORP.
Name: Andrew Skobe
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Title:
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Chief Financial Officer
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AREP CAR ACQUISITION CORP.
Name: Andrew Skobe
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Title:
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Chief Financial Officer
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LEAR CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Daniel
A. Ninivaggi
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Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi
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Title:
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief
Administrative Officer
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Signature
Page to
Amendment No. 1
to Agreement and Plan of Merger
A-4
AMENDMENT
NO. 1
TO THE
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 (the Amendment),
dated as of July 9, 2007, to the Stock Purchase Agreement,
dated as of October 17, 2006 (the
Agreement), is among Lear Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the Company), and those
other parties named on the signature page hereto (collectively,
the Buyers or individually, a
Buyer).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Section 8(e) of the Agreement permits the
parties to amend the Agreement by an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of the Company and the Buyers; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Agreement
as provided herein.
STATEMENT
OF AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual representations, warranties and covenants and subject to
the conditions herein contained and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions;
References. Unless otherwise specifically defined
herein, each capitalized term used but not defined herein shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in the Agreement. Each
reference to hereof, hereunder,
hereby, and this Agreement shall, from
and after the date of this Amendment, refer to the Agreement, as
amended by this Amendment. Each reference herein to the
date of this Amendment shall refer to the date set forth
above and each reference to the date of this
Agreement or similar references shall refer to
October 17, 2006.
ARTICLE 2
AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
Section 2.01. Amendment to Section 6(a)
of the Agreement. Effective as of the date
hereof, Section 6(a)(ii) of the Agreement is amended by
deleting 24% and replacing such amount with
24.5%. Effective as of immediately prior to the
Section 5.4 Issuance (as defined in the Merger Agreement
dated as of February 9, 2007 by and among AREP Car Holdings
Corp. (Parent), AREP Car Acquisition Corp.
and the Company, as amended), Section 6(a)(ii) of the
Agreement is amended by deleting 24.5% and replacing
such amount with 27%. The Company and the Buyers
acknowledge and agree that for purposes of
Section 6(a)(ii), Buyers shall be deemed to
include Parent and its affiliates and associates.
Section 2.02. Additional Representations and
Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to the Buyers as follows:
(a) Authority Relative to Amendment. The
Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Amendment, and to perform its
obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this
Amendment by the Company have been duly and validly authorized
by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to
authorize the execution and delivery of this Amendment. This
Amendment has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery by the Buyers, this Amendment constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms (except as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors rights, and to general equitable principles).
B-1
(b) Section 203. The Company has
taken all necessary corporate action to make the
Section 5.4 Issuance and any other subsequent purchases by
the Buyers that do not exceed the limitations set for in
Section 6(a)(ii) of the Agreement, as amended by this
Amendment, including any necessary corporate action to cause the
Buyers not to be deemed an interested stockholder for purposes
of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
(Section 203) by reason of such purchase or
purchases. A copy of the Boards 203 resolution is attached
as Exhibit A hereto and indicates that the approval is
limited as set forth thereon.
Section 2.03 Additional Representations and
Warranties of the Buyers. The Buyers each hereby
jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company as
follows:
(a) Authority Relative to Amendment. The
Buyers have all necessary power and authority to execute and
deliver this Amendment, and to perform their respective
obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this
Amendment by each Buyer have been duly and validly authorized by
all necessary action on the part of each Buyer, and no further
consent or action is required by any Buyer, its governing body,
partners or members. This Amendment has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by each Buyer and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, this
Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
each Buyer, enforceable against each Buyer in accordance with
its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors rights, and to general
equitable principles).
ARTICLE 3
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01. No Further
Amendment. Except as expressly amended hereby,
the Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all
of the terms and conditions and provisions thereof shall remain
in full force and effect. This Amendment is limited precisely as
written and shall not be deemed to be an amendment to any other
term or condition of the Agreement or any of the documents
referred to therein.
Section 3.02. Effect of
Amendment. This Amendment shall form a part of
the Agreement for all purposes, and each party thereto and
hereto shall be bound hereby. From and after the execution of
this Amendment by the parties hereto, any reference to
this Agreement, hereof,
herein, hereunder and words or
expressions of similar import shall be deemed a reference to the
Agreement as amended hereby.
Section 3.03. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and governed for all purposes by the laws of the
State of New York applicable to contracts executed and to be
wholly performed within such State without giving effect to its
conflicts of laws principles thereof.
Section 3.04. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts,
all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party; provided that a
facsimile signature shall be considered due execution and shall
be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and
effect as if the signature were an original, not a facsimile
signature.
[Remainder
of This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
B-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Buyers have
caused this Amendment to be executed as of the date first
written above by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized.
LEAR CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Daniel
A. Ninivaggi
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Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi
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Title:
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief
Administrative Officer
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BUYERS:
ICAHN PARTNERS LP
Name: Edward Mattner
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Title:
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Authorized Signatory
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ICAHN PARTNERS MASTER FUND LP
Name: Edward Mattner
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Title:
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Authorized Signatory
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KOALA HOLDINGS LLC
Name: Edward Mattner
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Title:
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Authorized Signatory
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Signature
Page to
Amendment No. 1
to the Stock Purchase Agreement
B-3
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this
Agreement) is made and entered into as of
July 9, 2007, by and among Lear Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the Company) and AREP Car
Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (AREP).
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
February 9, 2007, as amended as of the date hereof, by and
among the Company, AREP and AREP Car Acquisition Corp., a
Delaware corporation (the Merger Agreement),
upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Merger
Agreement, the Company may be obligated to issue to AREP
335,570 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
of the Company (the Shares), which have been
valued at $37.25 per share for an aggregate valuation
(Value) of $12,500,000;
WHEREAS, the Shares, if issued, will be acquired in a
transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 33
Act) and the rules and regulations of the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC); and
WHEREAS, if the Shares are issued, the Company has agreed to
register the Shares for resale under the 33 Act, and the
parties wish to agree on the terms and conditions under which
the Shares, if issued, will be registered under the 33 Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, if the Shares are issued, the parties agree as
follows:
1. Registration Rights.
(a) Within thirty (30) days after the date on which
the Shares are issued (the Filing Deadline),
the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a
Shelf Registration Statement (the
Registration Statement) covering the resale
of the Shares (Registrable Securities) for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on
Form S-3
(except if the Company is not then eligible to register for
resale the Shares on
Form S-3,
in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate
form). In the event that the Registration Statement has not been
filed by the Filing Deadline, the Company will pay AREP a fee
equal to 0.5% of the Value.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective upon filing with
the SEC or as promptly as possible after the filing thereof and
shall use its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement
continuously effective under the 33 Act until such time as
AREP receives an opinion acceptable to AREP from Company counsel
to the effect that the Registrable Securities may be resold in a
transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the
33 Act without regard to any volume or other restrictions
under the 33 Act (the Effectiveness
Period). In the event that the Registration Statement
is not declared effective within one hundred twenty
(120) days after the date on which the Shares are issued
(the Effectiveness Deadline), the Company
will pay AREP a fee equal to 0.5% of the Value. In addition,
every sixty (60) days from the Effectiveness Deadline until
the Registration Statement is declared effective, the Company
shall pay to AREP an amount in cash equal to 0.5% of the Value,
accruing daily and prorated for any partial period;
provided, however, that the aggregate amount of
liquidated damages for which the Company is liable pursuant to
Sections 1(a) and 1(b) shall not exceed five percent (5%)
of the Value. The payment of any of these fees does not relieve
the Company of its registration obligations under this section.
(c) The Company shall notify AREP in writing promptly that
the Registration Statement has become effective.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, the Company may, one time in any twelve
(12) month period, for up to a maximum of seventy-five
(75) days, delay the filing or effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or suspend the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement if the Company shall have determined in
good faith, upon advice of counsel, that it would be required to
disclose any significant corporate development which disclosure
would have a material effect on the Company.
(e) So long as the Company pursues in good faith its
obligations under this Agreement, the fees provided for in these
sections shall be treated as liquidated damages and the Company
shall have no further liability to AREP,
C-1
provided however, that if the Company is not so
pursuing its obligations under this Agreement in good faith,
AREP shall be entitled to claim damages in addition to the fees
owed under these sections.
2. Registration Procedures. In connection
with the Companys registration obligations hereunder, the
Company shall:
(a) Not less than three business days prior to the filing
of a Registration Statement or any related prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that
would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to AREP copies of
all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other
than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference) will be subject to the review of AREP (it being
understood that such review must be completed within three
business days of receipt of the applicable documents), and
(ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such
inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of
respective counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of the 33 Act.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to each Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may
be necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously
effective as to the Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness
Period and prepare and file with the SEC such additional
Registration Statements in order to register for resale under
the 33 Act all of the Registrable Securities;
(ii) cause the related prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so
supplemented or amended to be filed; (iii) respond promptly
to any comments received from the SEC with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto; and
(iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of
the 33 Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
during the applicable period in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by AREP thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such prospectus as so
supplemented.
(c) Notify AREP promptly of any of the following events:
(i) the SEC notifies the Company whether there will be a
review of any Registration Statement; (ii) the
SEC comments in writing on any Registration Statement covering
Registrable Securities; (iii) any Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment is declared effective;
(iv) the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental
authority requests any amendment or supplement to any
Registration Statement or prospectus or requests additional
information related thereto; (v) the SEC issues any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement
or initiates any proceedings for that purpose; (vi) the
Company receives notice of any suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any Registrable Securities
for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threat of any
proceeding for such purpose; or (vii) the financial
statements included in any Registration Statement become
ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in any
Registration Statement or prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference
is untrue in any material respect or any revision to a
Registration Statement, prospectus or other document is required
so that it will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(d) Furnish to AREP, without charge, at least one conformed
copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference,
and all exhibits to the extent requested by such person
(including those previously furnished or incorporated by
reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
SEC.
(e) Promptly deliver to AREP, without charge, as many
copies of the prospectus or prospectuses (including each form of
prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as AREP may
reasonably request.
(f) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use its commercially reasonable best efforts to register or
qualify or cooperate with AREP in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such
registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities
for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as AREP requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period
and to do any and all other acts or
C-2
things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement.
(g) Upon the occurrence of any event described in
Section 2(c), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment,
including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration
Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference, and file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor
such prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(h) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC.
(i) Enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including,
without limitation, by providing customary legal opinions,
comfort letters and indemnification and contribution
obligations, in the event that AREP notifies the Company of its
intent to resell the Registrable Securities pursuant to an
underwritten offering and of the selected underwriter(s) for
such offering.
(j) In connection with the registration of the Registrable
Securities, it shall be a condition precedent to the obligations
of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this
Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities that AREP
shall furnish to the Company such information reasonably
requested by it to complete the Registration Statement.
3. Registration Expenses. The Company
shall pay the following expenses incident to the performance of
or compliance with its obligations under Sections 1, 2, 3
and 4 of this Agreement: (i) all registration and filing
fees and expenses, including without limitation those related to
filings with the SEC and in connection with applicable state
securities or Blue Sky laws, (ii) printing expenses
(including without limitation expenses of printing prospectuses
requested by AREP), (iii) fees and expenses of all persons
retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and
(D) all listing fees to be paid by the Company to the New
York Stock Exchange and the reasonable fees and expenses of one
counsel for AREP. The Company shall not be obligated to pay, if
applicable, any underwriting discounts and commissions with
respect to the sale of the Shares.
4. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The
Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless AREP, its officers,
directors, partners, members, agents, and employees, each person
who controls AREP (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
33 Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) and
the officers, directors, partners, members, agents and employees
of each such controlling person, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, as
incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any prospectus or any form of prospectus
or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary
prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or
alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
of any prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made)
not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent,
that (i) such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements,
omissions or alleged omissions are based solely upon information
regarding AREP furnished in writing to the Company by AREP
expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to AREPs proposed method of
distribution of the Shares and was reviewed and approved in
writing by AREP expressly for use in the Registration Statement,
such prospectus or such form of prospectus or in any amendment
or supplement thereto or (ii) in the case of an occurrence
of an event of the type specified in Section 2(c), the use
by AREP of an outdated or defective prospectus after the Company
has notified AREP in writing that the prospectus is outdated or
defective. The Company shall notify AREP promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding of which the
Company is aware in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by AREP. AREP shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors,
officers, agents and employees, each person who controls the
Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the 33
Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors,
officers, agents or employees of such controlling persons, to
the
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fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all
losses (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a
final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising solely
out of any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any prospectus, or any form of
prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or
arising solely out of any omission of a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
(in the case of any prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained
in any information so furnished in writing by AREP to the
Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration
Statement or such prospectus or to the extent that (i) such
untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information
regarding AREP furnished in writing to the Company expressly for
use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to
AREP or AREPs proposed method of distribution of the
Shares and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by
AREP expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
prospectus or such form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of
an event of the type specified in Section 2(c), the use by
AREP of an outdated or defective prospectus after the Company
has notified AREP in writing that the prospectus is outdated or
defective. In no event shall the liability of AREP hereunder be
greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds
received by AREP upon the sale of the Shares giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.
(i) If any proceeding shall be brought or asserted against
any person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
Indemnified Party), such Indemnified Party
shall promptly notify the person from whom indemnity is sought
(the Indemnifying Party) in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the
failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not
relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities
pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that
it shall be finally determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and
materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
(ii) An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such proceeding and to participate in
the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties
unless: (I) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to
pay such fees and expenses; or (II) the Indemnifying Party
shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such
proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party in any such proceeding; or (III) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been
advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified
Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such
Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing
that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the
Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party
shall not be liable for any settlement of any such proceeding
effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the
prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending proceeding in respect of which any
Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(iii) All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party
(including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred
in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such
proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall
be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten
business days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying
Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder;
provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require such
Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and
expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that
such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder).
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(d) Contribution.
(i) If a claim for indemnification under Sections 4(a)
or 4(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of
public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in
lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result
of such losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified
Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions
that resulted in such losses as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of such
Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether any action in
question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material
fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information
supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and
the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action,
statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as
a result of any losses shall be deemed to include, subject to
the limitations set forth in Section 4(c), any reasonable
attorneys or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by
such party in connection with any proceeding to the extent such
party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if
the indemnification provided for in this Section was available
to such party in accordance with its terms.
(ii) The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4(d)
were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 4(d), AREP shall not be required to contribute, in
the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by AREP from the sale of the Shares
subject to the proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that
AREP has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the 33 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation.
5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall
be construed in accordance with and governed for all purposes by
the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts
executed and to be wholly performed within such State without
giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles thereof.
(b) Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which
shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and
delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile
signature shall be considered due execution and shall be binding
upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if
the signature were an original, not a facsimile signature.
(c) Headings. The headings of this
Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form
part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.
(d) Severability. If any provision of
this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this
Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability
of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
(e) Amendments. No provision of this
Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing
signed by the Company and AREP. No provision hereof may be
waived other than by an instrument in writing signed by the
party against whom enforcement is sought.
(f) Notices. Any notices, consents,
waivers or other communications required or permitted to be
given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and
will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt,
when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by
facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically
or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending
party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with
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an overnight courier service, in each case properly addressed to
the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile
numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Lear Corporation
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield, Michigan 48034
Facsimile:
(248) 447-1677
Attention: Daniel A. Ninivaggi
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
with a copy to (for information purposes only):
Winston & Strawn LLP
35 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
Facsimile:
312-558-5700
Attention: Bruce A. Toth, Esq.
If to AREP:
c/o Icahn
Associates Corp.
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Facsimile:
212-750-5815
Attn: Vince Intrieri, and
Keith Meister
with a copy to (for information purposes only):
c/o Icahn
Associates Corp.
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Facsimile:
212-688-1158
Attn: Marc Weitzen, Esq.
or to such other address
and/or
facsimile number
and/or to
the attention of such other person as the recipient party has
specified by written notice given to each other party five
(5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written
confirmation of receipt (i) given by the recipient of such
notice, consent, waiver or other communication,
(ii) mechanically or electronically generated by the
senders facsimile machine containing the time, date,
recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of
such transmission or (iii) provided by an overnight courier
service shall be evidence of personal service, receipt by
facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in
accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above,
respectively.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties and their respective successors and assigns. The Company
and AREP shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the
other party, provided however that AREP may assign all or
any portion of its rights and obligations hereunder to no more
than ten (10) other parties, although such assignment shall
not relieve AREP of its obligations under this Agreement.
(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not
for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by,
any other person.
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(i) Further Assurances. Each party shall
do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such
further acts, and shall execute and deliver all such other
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any
other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the
intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(j) Termination. This Agreement shall
terminate if the Company no longer has any obligation to issue
the Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
[Signature
Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Registration Agreement as of the date first written above.
LEAR CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Daniel
A. Ninivaggi
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Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi
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Title:
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief
Administrative Officer
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AREP CAR HOLDING CORP.
Name: Andrew Skobe
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Title:
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Chief Financial Officer
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